Venezuelan opposition says government has stalled Vatican-mediated crisis talks

November 25, 2016

Venezuela’s political opposition has blamed the government of President Nicolas Maduro for an impasse in negotiations designed to end the country’s political crisis.

Government negotiators failed to appear for the Vatican-mediated talks on November 23, and a leader of the opposition said that the government “froze the dialogue process.” The opposition said that the government had failed to deliver on its promises to free political prisoners and to allow the importation of medicine and other humanitarian supplies to ease widespread shortages.

President Maduro said that despite “difficulties,” the talks would continue; he promised that they would become more productive in future months.

The talks were aimed to ward off a potentially violent showdown, which loomed when the opposition, which controls the Venezuelan parliament, threatened to try Maduro for violating the country’s constitution by putting off a referendum on his leadership.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Venezuela opposition says Vatican-brokered talks 'frozen' (Reuters)
• Venezuelan archbishop: government negotiators take ‘very radical’ stand in crisis talks (CWN, 11/16)