Chavismo conditions dialogue with opposition to the US releasing Saab, alleged figurehead of Maduro

The president of the questioned National Assembly (AN, Parliament) of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez, affirmed that for the Chavista regime to resume the dialogue process with the opposition, it is necessary to release the Colombian businessman “immediately” Álex Saab, alleged front man of the illegitimate president Nicolas Maduro, currently detained in the United States.

“Do you want dialogue? Immediately release Álex Saab to join the dialogue table with the Venezuelan opposition, stop stealing money that does not belong to you and return to the people of Venezuela the money that you stole, “he said in the installation session of the new legislative period where he was ratified as president of the chamber.

Rodríguez, appointed by Maduro leader of the official negotiating group, assured that the representatives of the Chavista regime attended the negotiation that began in Mexico on August 13 “clean of heart”, as – he insisted – they went “to all dialogue processes” previous with the opposition sectors.

“But do not go to a dialogue and then internally sabotage that same dialogue, to attack it internally as did the Prime Minister of Norway, the United States Department of Justice, which committed the atrocity of kidnapping a diplomatic representative of Venezuela Alex Saab who also he is a representative, a full member of the delegation before the dialogue table in Mexico, “he said.

Rodríguez reiterated that, to resume the negotiation in Mexico, interrupted on October 16 by the ruling party, in protest at the extradition of Saab from Cape Verde to the United States, it is also necessary to stop “stealing the assets, the gold of England , Monómeros, Citgo ”, in reference to the opposition’s handling of the funds under its management.

“If you want dialogue, go ahead and acknowledge that you made a very serious mistake and committed crimes against the Republic,” he said.

For his part, the Venezuelan opponent Juan Guaidó ratified this Wednesday the willingness of the group he leads to resume dialogue with the Chavista regime.

“I ratify the provision that the unitary platform, today a meeting place for unity in Venezuela, immediately resume the possibility of a comprehensive agreement that provides guarantees, through the Constitution, for all those who want free and fair elections” Guaidó said during a ceremony in a park in eastern Caracas.

The opponent reminded the Chavistas that “there is already a space to reach an agreement”, referring to the table set up in Mexico on August 13, and that “parallel negotiations do not lead to anything.”

On the other hand, the former deputy agreed that the handling of the assets of the Caribbean country, which he manages himself, be investigated and assured that “there are questions and there must be,” but that it is necessary for anti-Chavista politicians, Among those you meet, stay “on the side of the people.”

Guaidó proclaimed himself “president in charge” in January 2019, when he also led the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), which then had a large opposition majority, protected by a particular reading of the Constitution that allowed him to be so for 30 days, with the premise, among others, of calling elections that never came.

That earned him the recognition of countries such as the United States, Colombia and most of the democratic countries of the region, which went on to manage Venezuelan companies that are in those countries, Citgo and Monómeros Colombos Venezolano.