Delcy Rodríguez, the interim leader of Venezuela, assured the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that elections will take place in Venezuela, although she refrained from specifying any exact dates or timelines for the electoral process.
While addressing the UN Assembly in New York, Rodríguez stated that her government has initiated political dialogue with opposition factions to create equal conditions for an electoral process. "There will be elections in Venezuela, and we have begun political dialogue with opposition sectors to lead a process that ensures fairness for everyone," Rodríguez declared.
However, the timing of these elections was left intentionally vague. "The Venezuelan people, with their ancestral wisdom, will decide the right moment, and our institutions will be ready to ensure an inclusive and transparent process," she added, without providing any verifiable commitments regarding the schedule.
Redefining Democracy
Rodríguez also attempted to redefine what democracy means in front of the delegates gathered in New York. "Democracy is not measured by the mere existence of elections. It is measured by the quality of the competition preceding those elections. An election should be a solution, not a generator of irreconcilable conflicts," she argued.
Her speech included the announcement of an "orderly legal reform" aimed at strengthening the state and providing legal security to both investors and citizens. Rodríguez described the reform of the justice system as "urgent" and called for international "support" without "any interference" in Venezuelan affairs.
Historic Meeting with President Trump
This declaration at the UN followed a "historic" meeting the previous day between Rodríguez and President Donald Trump at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in Manhattan. This marked the first face-to-face interaction between a U.S. president and a Venezuelan leader in over eleven years.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the meeting along with other high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, described it as "brief but significant," revealing that the main topics were Venezuela's sovereign debt restructuring, economic stabilization, and the political transition towards free and fair elections.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia González called the meeting "the beginning of a new stage in the relationship between Venezuela and the United States."
Background of the Announcement
Rodríguez's announcement comes amid a rapidly progressing normalization process between Caracas and Washington following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026, after which Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president.
This process has included several milestones, such as a historic oil agreement granting North American Blue Energy Partners rights to 17 Venezuelan fields with approximately 65 billion barrels of proven reserves.
Nevertheless, Rodríguez's electoral promise faces the concrete demands of Washington, which has tied full normalization to elections with international observation, free press, and a legitimate National Electoral Council.
It also contrasts with the demands of the majority opposition led by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, who are excluded from the formal dialogue table and demand tangible results—such as the release of political prisoners, electoral guarantees, and the return of exiles—before validating any process.
Venezuelan Elections and Political Dialogue
What did Delcy Rodríguez promise at the UN?
Delcy Rodríguez promised that elections will be held in Venezuela, but did not provide specific dates or timelines.
What was discussed in the meeting with President Trump?
The meeting addressed Venezuela's sovereign debt restructuring, economic stabilization, and the political transition toward free and fair elections.
What are the demands of the opposition in Venezuela?
The opposition demands the release of political prisoners, electoral guarantees, and the return of exiles before validating any electoral process.