EFE
Dinorah Figuera, president of the National Assembly elected in 2015, spoke on Friday about the absence of opposition leader María Corina Machado from the dialogue table that a sector of the opposition is holding with the ruling party, promoted with the backing of the United States.
When asked by the press about Machado's non-participation — who said in an interview this Thursday that she was excluded from the talks — Figuera was emphatic: "Whoever wants to participate in the dialogue table, we are opening the spaces, they are invited."
Key points: Excluded from the negotiations, Machado criticizes the US's treatment of Betancourt
The leader reiterated that the invitation is broad and not restricted to any specific group. "The invitation is for everyone. Whoever wants to participate in the dialogue table, we are opening the spaces, they are invited," she insisted.
Figuera highlighted that various political sectors have already participated in the meetings, including representatives of the Communist Party and Tupamaros. "All sectors of the country are coming here, that's the good thing, that we are reconnecting (...) I believe the country is tired of the stridency, of not recognizing each other, of being angry forever," she said.
She also defended the need to include all organizations. "Democracy... look, without political parties there is no democracy."
In the same vein, she explained that the table is not limited to actors...
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EFE
Dinorah Figuera, president of the National Assembly elected in 2015, spoke this Friday about the absence of opposition leader María Corina Machado from the dialogue table that a sector of the opposition is holding with the ruling party, promoted with the backing of the United States.
When asked by the press about Machado's non-participation — who said in an interview this Thursday that she was excluded from the talks — Figuera was emphatic: "Whoever wants to participate in the dialogue table, we are opening the spaces, you are invited."
The leader reiterated that the invitation is broad and not restricted to any specific group. "The invitation is for everyone. Whoever wants to participate in the dialogue table, we are opening the spaces, you are invited," she insisted.
Figuera highlighted that various political sectors have already taken part in the meetings, including representatives of the Communist Party and Tupamaros. "All sectors of the country are coming here, that's the good thing, that we are reconnecting (…) I believe the country is tired of the stridency, of not recognizing each other, of being angry our whole lives," she said.
She also defended the need to include all organizations. "Democracy… look, without political parties there is no democracy."
In the same vein, she explained that the table is not limited to traditional political actors. "We are opening the spaces, you are invited, next it will be the nurses who will come to raise and present their views, and all the leaderships of the country are invited, political parties, of course."
Regarding political disqualifications, Figuera stated that this is a central issue. "The table guarantees the disqualifications being lifted. The pertinent bodies have to, in this case, respond to that." And she added firmly: "I can say it here to the four winds: not only María Corina, all the people who have been unjustly disqualified must enjoy the freedom to participate in an electoral process."
"We are going to look for a date"
In earlier statements, Figuera announced that the dialogue table will address political disqualifications and the recovery of the parties' ballot symbols, issues that, she indicated, are part of the path toward an electoral process. "We are going to look for a date," she said.
The president of the 2015 National Assembly maintained that the country needs to move toward greater freedoms and a reunion among Venezuelans: "What we need most […] is that we Venezuelans are engaged in a process of reconnecting and of seeking a process of freedoms for the country."
Figuera's statements come within the framework of the third round of negotiations and after María Corina Machado publicly questioned her exclusion from the process.