The Venezuelan government yesterday (Saturday) canceled talks with the opposition over the arrest and extradition to the United States of Alex Saab, a financier close to President Nicholas Maduro, for money laundering.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the head of the government's negotiating team, Jorge Rodriguez, thus bringing another compromise attempt to an end.
These are talks aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis in the South American country, which has been ruled by an extremist socialist regime since 1999, when Hugo Chavez came to power.
"The government has suspended its participation in the negotiating table. We will not participate in the round that will begin on Sunday in Mexico City," Rodriguez announced.
Poster calling for Saab's release, Photo: AP
Shortly before the official cancellation, it was learned that President Maduro's associate was arrested after a lengthy legal battle and extradited while in the Republic of Cabo Verde to US authorities. These accuse the man, who has Colombian citizenship, of money laundering in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Saab was scheduled to attend reconciliation talks as a government representative, but his arrest preyed on the cards.
In addition, his extradition turned on a number of warning lights at the Miraflores Palace, Venezuela's presidential residence, following information that could hold someone who was marked as President Maduro's secret treasurer.
Many in the local opposition are striving for Saab to provide details to the US government that could lead to the overthrow of Maduro.
Opposition to the settlement could put him behind bars for about 20 years in a U.S. federal prison. Venezuelan opposition Juan Guido after Saab's extradition.
