Venezuela Interim Government Opens August 1 Talks With Opposition as Quakes Kill 4,734
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 15
Venezuela Interim Government Opens August 1 Talks With Opposition as Quakes Kill 4,734
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 15
Summary
August 1 is the start date Venezuela's interim government set for formal talks with some opposition members, more than six months after Nicolas Maduro was seized by US troops and removed from power.
4,734 confirmed deaths from the twin June 24 earthquakes were cited by National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez as the immediate trigger, with both sides framing the talks around reconstruction, peace and democratic renewal.
Dinorah Figuera, back in Venezuela after nearly eight years in exile, will lead the opposition team, which says the agenda includes overhauling democratic institutions, renewing the electoral council and guaranteeing political participation.
372 political prisoners remain jailed despite releases after Maduro's ouster, underscoring the opposition's demand for safeguards after years of persecution and disputed elections.
Maria Corina Machado has not endorsed the talks and is due to meet her opposition coalition later Wednesday, while the Trump administration appears to back Figuera as the main negotiator for a democratic transition.
Why is the US backing Maduro's heir for talks while sidelining a Nobel-winning democratic leader?
As Venezuela negotiates its future, is the US trading genuine democracy for oil stability?
Aftermath of Venezuela’s Deadliest Earthquake in a Century: 2,500+ Dead, Political Turmoil, and Delayed Democracy
Overview
On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was hit by powerful twin earthquakes, causing widespread devastation and ongoing fear as over 1,200 aftershocks shook the nation. The disaster left at least 32 people dead, hundreds injured, and destroyed or severely damaged more than a thousand buildings, forcing many from their homes. The scale of destruction quickly overwhelmed local resources, leading to urgent international assistance. As the country struggled with instability and loss, the crisis exposed deep-rooted problems in Venezuela’s institutions and highlighted the resilience and generosity of its people amid immense hardship.