This handout photo released by the Venezuelan Presidency of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro shows the president speaking during a televised message at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 28, 2021. (JHONN ZERPA / VENEZUELAN PRESIDENCY / AFP)
MEXICO CITY – Mexico will host talks between the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the political opposition, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters on Thursday, the first time a Mexican official has confirmed the negotiations.
"What we're looking for is that there's dialogue and agreements between the parties," said Lopez Obrador, declining to provide more details.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has said the opposition wants to use the talks to push for guarantees of free and fair elections, following broad criticism that past elections have been stacked in favor of the ruling socialists
Two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Wednesday that the talks would likely begin on Aug 13. It was not clear where in Mexico the talks would be held. read more
President Maduro, who has overseen an economic collapse in the once-prosperous South American nation, has said he is willing to negotiate with opposition leader Juan Guaido.
The negotiations aimed at ending a political standoff ahead of regional elections in November.
But Maduro has insisted that the agenda must focus on lifting US sanctions, most of which were created by former US president Donald Trump two years ago in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to force the socialist president from power.
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Guaido has said the opposition wants to use the talks to push for guarantees of free and fair elections, following broad criticism that past elections have been stacked in favor of the ruling socialists.
Previous talks between the two sides have not produced significant results.
