Venezuela: Maduro "ready" for negotiations with the opposition

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, eager to lift sanctions against his country, said Thursday July 22 that he was

for negotiations with the opposition.

he said. president during a statement on national television.

Read also: In Venezuela, how Chavismo suffocates the left

Nicolas Maduro indicated that emissaries of power had warned all tendencies of the opposition. No date has yet been set for these negotiations, one of the main subjects of which will be the participation or not of the opposition in the local and regional elections on 21 November. These elections could be an opportunity for the start of the crisis, according to many observers.

The Venezuelan president had already on other occasions expressed his willingness to dialogue with the opposition which, led by Juan Guaido, does not recognize his inauguration, claiming that his re-election in 2018 was fraudulent.

Nicolas Maduro, whose election boycotted by the opposition in 2018 was not recognized by the international community, faced major protests in his country, especially in 2017.

Read also: Venezuela: after the legislative elections, the fragile response of the opposition

Washington has imposed economic sanctions on Caracas in an attempt to oust Nicolas Maduro from power and he regularly accuses the United States of trying to destabilize his country.

Juan Guaido is considered interim president by the United States, but has no power.