• Venezuela.Trump says his government is in contact with Chavism "at a very high level"
  • Venezuela: Chavismo's last attempt to hit the Venezuelan opposition: convene parliamentarians

While the negotiation between the regime of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition in Venezuela stagnates, the US seeks, in parallel, to take the reins of the process that leads to an eventual transition, meeting with senior Chavez officials, who have become entangled, contradicting themselves in public about the "secret meetings" with the White House envoys.

On the one hand, the number two of Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello, denies having met with senior Trump officials , calling the press publications "lies" and "manipulation," and on the other, Maduro admits that there have been contacts for months Secrets with the White House representatives , authorized by him, allegedly.

"I confirm that for months there have been contacts of senior officials of the US Government of Donald Trump and the Government that I preside under my express authorization, to seek to regularize this conflict," Maduro said Tuesday night, without giving more details about the alleged meetings Maduro also said he was willing to talk with Trump - his main enemy - to find solutions to the political conflict that the oil country is going through. " There have been secret meetings, in secret places, with secret people, that nobody should know, " he added.

However, Washington downplayed the role of Maduro himself in these meetings, ensuring that they occurred behind him and that his only objective is to negotiate his exit from power. " The only issues covered by those who work behind Maduro are his departure and free and fair elections, " US National Security Advisor John Bolton wrote on Twitter. "To end the theft of the resources of the Venezuelan people and the continuous repression, Maduro must leave," he added.

"The US move is not only parallel - to the negotiation in Barbados - but it does not take into account any other dialogue initiative. They have decided to take the process on their own, for themselves and without any other reference " said political scientist Fernando Spiritto, postgraduate director of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the Catholic University. The president of the opposition Parliament, Juan Guaidó, considers that the Maduro and Cabello versions "evidence the contradictions within the regime."

"They talk back and forth, they contradict each other in hours. Diosdado Cabello denies having participated in talks with the United States and Maduro denies it at a time," the opposition leader, recognized as president in charge of the United States and more than 50 countries, added at a press conference. .

The meetings between Chavismo officials and high-ranking Washington officials met while the Guaidó representatives in negotiations with the Maduro regime - sponsored by Norway - are in Washington to "align" strategies that allow "solving the crisis" of the Latin American country, Guaidó said.

"There is nothing extraordinary in these meetings with our allies to find solutions. They are having meetings with the diaspora, with our ambassadors and with government institutions," said the president in charge.

For Deputy Henry Ramos Allup, former head of parliament, pressure from the United States can be crucial for a change of government. " If the United States presses hard, Maduro can hardly refuse to make really free and competitive elections ," he said.

Ramos Allup said the opposition does not feel betrayed because Washington officials secretly meet Nicolás Maduro's circle. "The parties must always speak," he said.

However, Spiritto said that although Americans think their meetings with Chavismo can yield a positive result, they should not fall into the opposition's mistake of allowing Maduro's regime to gain time.

"Maduro cancels the time he was with the opposition and now goes to the United States to gain time. But this will not be a permanent attitude, soon we will see him again sit at the negotiating table and continue in the game to postpone indefinitely the things. It will depend on the United States and the opposition that does not follow that. Maduro will not accept free and democratic elections, the only thing that can break the circle is military pressure, "he added.

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  • U.S
  • Nicolás Maduro
  • Juan Guaidó
  • Donald Trump
  • Venezuela Elections

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