CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The Venezuelan government plans to resume negotiations with the U.S. government this week, President Nicolás Maduro said Monday, less than a month before a highly anticipated election in which he and his party face their toughest challenge in decades.
Maduro, who is seeking a third term, wants the U.S. government to lift the Crippling economic sanctions that have been imposed on him over the past decade in an attempt to overthrow him. He called the dialogue “urgent” on his weekly television show.
The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
“I have received for two consecutive months the proposal of the government of the United States to reestablish the talks and the direct dialogue,” Maduro said. “After thinking about it for two months, I accepted and next Wednesday the talks will resume with the government of the United States to respect the agreements signed in Qatar and reestablish the terms of the urgent dialogue.”
Maduro’s government had been holding parallel negotiations with the Biden administration and with the U.S.-backed opposition coalition Unity Platform. But those talks have been suspended as Maduro reneged on promises, including to improve conditions before elections, and his government accused the United States of failing to uphold parts of the agreements.
Negotiations with the United States took place in Qatar. It is not yet known where the next round of talks will take place.
The July 28 election is shaping up to be the biggest challenge Venezuela’s ruling United Socialist Party (PSU) has faced a difficult situation during its 25-year rule, which began with the rise to power of the fiery Hugo Chavez. The party wants to maintain its absolute control over the government for six more years, but its base is divided, weakened and disillusioned after enduring a complex social, economic and political crisis for 11 years, the entirety of Maduro’s presidency.
Ten candidates, including Maduro, will be in the running. The only candidate with a real chance of beating the president is Edmundo González Urrutia, representing the opposition coalition United Platform.
Last year, Maduro struck a deal with the opposition coalition to work to improve conditions for a free and fair election. But he has changed course The meteoric rise of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has become a real threat to his re-election prospects.
The United States granted Maduro’s government sanctions relief on the state-owned oil, gas and mining sectors after a deal was struck with the opposition. But the Biden administration has ended that relief as Maduro’s ruling party continues to use its control over all government institutions to tilt the balance in its favor, including by blocking Machado’s candidacy.
Machado’s chosen replacement was also ruled out of the vote. She and the coalition are now backing González, a former diplomat.
