Venezuela's opposition quits govt. talks with new demands
The leader of Venezuela's opposition coalition has pulled out of the current round of crisis talks with government authorities, demanding the release of prisoners and a vote on the country’s political future.
"We are staying in the dialogue system but we are not going to take part in today's meeting," the MUD coalition leader Jesus Torrealba said on Tuesday.
"The government is not only failing to fulfill its promises, it is denying all the agreements," Torrealba claimed in an interview with a local radio broadcast amid new opposition allegations that President Nicolas Maduro had agreed in the last round of talks to meet some of the opposition's demands.
Maduro, however, says the issue of prisoner release and a referendum were never on the table as conditions for crisis negotiations. He has refused both demands while saying that he is willing to engage in dialogue with the opposition.
Torrealba further stated that his side would only meet with Vatican and regional Latin American mediators on Tuesday, without elaborating on what they aim to achieve without government negotiators.
Torrealba's side wants government authorities to release jailed opposition leaders and agree to hold a referendum on whether President Maduro should remain in office.
While the center-right opposition holds Maduro’s administration responsible for the country’s deep economic crisis and shortage of basic goods, the Venezuelan leader has emphasized that the persisting crisis is a US-sponsored conspiracy in a bid to destabilize the Latin American nation.
Meanwhile, a group of 14 jailed opposition leaders began a hunger strike on Monday to demand the release of political prisoners and a vote to settle the crisis.
Venezuela's economic recession and ensuing shortages of food and medicine were driven by crashing prices for the country’s crucial crude oil exports.
Maduro enjoys the public backing of the military high command and of most other state institutions.
The dialogue between the government and the opposition was aimed at calming tensions amid persisting opposition calls for the removal of the president as the only option to deal with the country’s continuing economic troubles.
Analysts have warned there is a risk of unrest in Venezuela. Anti-government protests in 2014 led to clashes that left over 40 people dead.
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