‘Two Presidents Under One Roof’: Venezuela Resumes Negotiations After One Year

Negotiation Table Set Between Maduro Government and Interim President Guaid?
Maduro's 2018 Re-election Success ... Guaid? Claims 'Fraudulent Election'

President Maduro of Venezuela holding a press conference after the general election vote on December 6, 2020. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] In Venezuela, where the 'two presidents under one roof' situation has persisted for four years, the government and opposition are set to enter negotiations after more than a year to resolve their conflicts.

According to Reuters on the 23rd (local time), the Venezuelan government led by Nicol?s Maduro and the opposition leader Juan Guaid?, who claims to be the 'interim president,' have agreed to set up a negotiation table on the 25th and 26th to discuss domestic and international political issues.

The negotiations were reportedly made possible through the mediation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. President Petro wrote on his Twitter, "Dialogue between the Maduro government and the opposition will resume." Having restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela in September after more than three years, President Petro leads Colombia's first left-wing government.

The Venezuela government-opposition talks are the first in over a year since negotiations in Mexico last October. Reuters expects that the agenda will include the 2024 presidential election and conditions for political releases. It is also anticipated to be an occasion to confirm positions on U.S. sanctions and communicate mutual response measures.

A fund of approximately 3 billion dollars (about 4 trillion won), which may be prepared at the UN level for humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people, is also expected to be discussed.

Interim President Guaido leading the Venezuelan opposition. Photo by AP Yonhap News

The 'two presidents under one roof' situation began in January 2019. Although Maduro succeeded in his re-election in the 2018 presidential election, Guaid? did not recognize him as president, claiming the results were due to fraudulent elections, and declared himself president. In January 2019, Guaid? announced he would serve as interim president.

Subsequently, more than 60 countries, including the United States, which opposed Maduro's re-election, recognized Guaid? as Venezuela's leader, leading to political deadlock. In April 2019, after the opposition's military uprising attempt failed, the opposition rapidly disintegrated, and Guaid? also lost significant credibility, maintaining the current situation.

Isolated from the international community, including the United States, the Maduro government has recently sought a breakthrough to resolve the severe economic crisis by relying on the growing influence of left-wing regimes in Latin America. For this reason, local media report that there is keen interest in whether this meeting will serve as a stepping stone to easing sanctions such as those on oil exports.

Reuters reported that if talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition are realized, the United States may permit Chevron to expand its oil operations in Venezuela. Chevron, which has traded with Venezuela's state-owned oil company (PDVSA) since the 1920s, produced 200,000 barrels of oil per day in Venezuela until 2019 but halted production in 2020 following an order from the Trump administration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.