There Will Be Elections in Venezuela- Rodriguez

Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has told the United Nations that elections will be held in the country. 

Rodriguez made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.

“I want to state this very clearly before this General Assembly: there will be elections in Venezuela,” she said, without mentioning a timeline.

She also thanked the Trump administration for its decision to resume diplomatic relations and cooperation with Venezuela.

Rodriguez replaced former president Nicolas Maduro following his ouster by US forces in January, and she has served as a pliant ally to Washington since then.

She did not address the US military raid that removed Maduro from power, instead focusing on what she described as Venezuela’s transition towards a new stage of democracy.

Many Venezuelans had hoped that political transition talks backed by the United States and involving parts of the opposition would pave the way for democratic elections.

Those expectations were weakened in early September after Trump, speaking shortly after reaching a major oil agreement with Caracas, dismissed the prospect of a near-term vote.

Rodriguez also echoed those comments at the time.

During her visit to New York, Rodriguez has held meetings with International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials and several heads of state, including Trump.

Her appearance at the General Assembly marked the first address by a Venezuelan leader to the UN since Maduro spoke there in 2018.