Venezuelan government, opposition reach tentative agreement
November 16, 2016, 2:32 pm

Maduro says he is not likely to hold early elections, a key opposition demand [Xinhua]

They were at the heart of a controversial dispute between the Supreme Court and the National Assembly which reinstated them after a verdict banned them political representation on allegations of fraud.

Their resignation comes just three days after Venezuela’s government and opposition reached a tentative agreement on a roadmap that would outline the future of the current political stalemate, though falling far short of initial opposition demands.

President Nicolas Maduro has, however, ruled out holding early elections saying “nobody should get obsessed with electoral processes that are not in the constitution” on his television program.

“We agree to promote respectful political action,” said ruling Socialist Party Director Jorge Rodriguez, reading from a conciliatory joint statement agreed to by both sides at the meeting.

“The common good is above our legitimate differences.”

Vatican-brokered talked between the Venezuelan government and the opposition had resumed earlier that day, despite inflammatory rhetoric by President Nicolas Maduro last week calling one rival group “terrorists”.

Vatican envoy Claudio Maria Celli appeared optimistic.

“I see this moment as very positive, one of the ex-presidents used the word ‘miracle’ that the two delegations talk and do so in a respectful manner,” said Maria Celli.

The former presidents of Spain, Panama and the Dominican Republic are also present at the talks.

The opposition and the government will meet again for a second round of talks scheduled for December 6.

The political impasse, which arose from an opposition demand to hold a referendum on whether the presidential vote two years ago should be recalled, has exacerbated Venezuela’s dire economic duress.

Inflation is expected to reach 1,700 per cent in 2017 as mass unemployment surges amid a severe shortage in food and medicines brought on by a drastic drop in the price of oil, Venezuela’s main export commodity.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies