Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, declaring that her nation is committed to holding elections as part of a broader shift toward “full democracy.” However, she declined to specify when the vote would take place.
“I wish to state this very clearly before this General Assembly: Elections will be held in Venezuela,” Rodriguez said. She added that her administration has initiated “political dialogue with opposition sectors” to ensure a process conducted on equal terms for all participants.
Rodriguez stated that the Venezuelan public would ultimately decide the most appropriate timing for the elections. She assured the international body that national institutions would be ready to guarantee an inclusive and transparent process when the time came.
The address marks the first trip to the United States by a Venezuelan head of state since 2018. Rodriguez assumed the interim presidency following a surprise US military raid in January that abducted former leader Nicolas Maduro and transferred him to the US to face drug trafficking charges. Maduro is currently being held near the UN headquarters while awaiting trial.
Rodriguez acknowledged the challenges ahead, telling the assembly that Venezuela is “being reborn” after this year’s setbacks. She also thanked US President Donald Trump for his willingness to restore diplomatic relations after Maduro’s abduction.
On the sidelines of the assembly, Rodriguez met briefly with Trump on Tuesday. Discussions reportedly included restructuring billions of dollars in sovereign debt owed by the South American country.
Critics have argued that Washington has marginalized the Venezuelan opposition, prioritizing oil and investment agreements with the interim government over demands for free elections. Despite these concerns, Rodriguez framed her speech as a message of national renewal, telling her compatriots that “rebuilding our national soul will be the priority” and warning that the path forward would not be easy.
Interesting how she thanked Trump for Maduro’s abduction. That’s a bold diplomatic pivot—hope it actually leads to stability.
Vague promises without a timeline feel like more stalling. The opposition needs concrete steps, not just diplomatic theater at the UN.