Caracas, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government plans to resume negotiations with the U.S. administration this week, President Nicolás Maduro announced Monday, less than a month before long-awaited presidential elections that will present him and his party with their toughest challenge in decades.
Maduro, who is seeking a third term, wants the U.S. government to lift crippling economic sanctions imposed over the past decade in an attempt to topple him. He characterized the dialogue as “urgent” during his weekly television show.
The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
“I have received the proposal from the US government for two consecutive months to resume talks and direct dialogue,” Maduro said. “After thinking about it for two months, I have accepted it and next Wednesday talks with the US government will resume to fulfill the agreements signed in Qatar and to resume the conditions of urgent dialogue.”
The July 28 elections look set to be the biggest challenge to the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela in its 25-year dominance that began with the presidency of the fiery Hugo Chávez. The party wants to control all branches of government for another six years, but its base is divided, weakened and disappointed.
Ten candidates, including Maduro, will be on the ballot. The only contender with a real chance of beating the president is Edmundo González Urrutia, who represents the opposition Unitary Platform coalition.
Last year, Maduro reached an agreement with the opposition coalition to work on improving conditions for free and fair elections. But he has since changed course the meteorite rise of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado became a real threat to his re-election chances.
The US granted Maduro some sanctions relief after he reached the deal, but then withdrew it as his ruling party continued to use its control over all government institutions to tilt the balance, including by blocking Machado’s candidacy.
Machado’s chosen replacement was also excluded from the ballot. She and the coalition now support González, a former diplomat.