Venezuela Will Hold Elections, Delcy Rodríguez Tells UNGA; Thanks Trump for Diplomatic Outreach

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has promised elections and a transition to “full democracy”, telling the United Nations General Assembly that Venezuelans would determine the timing of the vote.

Addressing the assembly for the first time on Wednesday, Rodríguez pledged to guide the country out of uncertainty and conflict. She also thanked US President Donald Trump for his willingness to restart diplomatic engagement and cooperation with Caracas.

“I will assume a historic responsibility. That is the responsibility of taking Venezuela from uncertainty and conflict to a full democracy, which is recognised by its own people and the world,” she said.

Elections Promised, Timing Undecided

Rodríguez said a democratic transition had begun and promised a transparent, inclusive and verifiable process. She did not announce an election date in her remarks.

“We have begun a political dialogue with sectors of the opposition, which will lead to a process where everyone will compete on an equal footing,” she said.

The pledge came a day after advisers to opposition leader María Corina Machado said she had been denied entry into Venezuela three times while attempting to return from exile.

Outreach to Washington

Rodríguez said Caracas wanted to rebuild relations with Washington, neighbouring countries and the wider international community through cooperation, mutual respect and equality.

“Venezuela aspires — with the United States, with its neighbours, and with all the countries of our continent and the international community — to rebuild and sustain relations based on cooperation, respect, and equality,” she said.

Describing Venezuela’s goal as a “rebirth”, Rodríguez pointed to political turmoil, confrontation with the United States and the destruction caused by twin earthquakes on June 24. She said the earthquakes had killed more than 6,500 people and caused significant material losses.

Maduro’s Detention and the Transition

The address followed the Trump administration’s capture and detention of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a pre-dawn operation in January. They were transferred to a US naval vessel before being flown to New York for indictment.

The US military action drew scrutiny from legal experts, who raised concerns about potential violations of international law.

Trump defended the transition, saying the United States had removed Venezuela from what he called a “very powerful, very nasty dictatorship” under which many people had been imprisoned.

With inputs from ANI