Venezuela Starts US-Backed Talks on Future Democratic Elections

Venezuela’s government and some opposition members formally launched a US-backed political dialogue that could establish the terms for future democratic elections.

Talks to be led by former lawmaker Dinorah Figuera as opposition figure Maria Corina Machado left out of proceedings.

Not participating in the talks, to the chagrin ​of some Venezuela observers, is Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, the country's most popular opposition figure.

US-backed negotiations between Venezuela's interim government and a faction of the opposition will begin on Saturday (Jul 31), with the country's most prominent opposition leader absent.The talks, aimed at remaking the country's political system ahead of eventual elections, highlight Washington's unprecedented influenc

July 31 - U.S.-backed negotiations between Venezuela's interim government and a faction of the opposition will begin on Saturday, with the country's most prominent opposition leader absent.