Marco Rubio Meets Dinorah Figuera, Urges Venezuela Opposition Unity for Transition Talks

Rubio meets Figuera in Washington

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Friday in Washington with Dinorah Figuera, leader of a Venezuelan opposition delegation in talks with the country’s government over what Rubio called “lasting democratic change,” and Rubio said the negotiations had “100 percent support” from Washington. Rubio urged “everyone who cares about the future of Venezuela” to participate in the process, and he told reporters that the talks must involve “every sector of society.”

Rubio and Figuera met at the State Department in Washington, and the State Department readout said Rubio “commended Figuera’s courageous leadership in advancing political reconciliation.” Rubio also told reporters that a new round of negotiations is scheduled for October 14, and he linked the effort to the U.S. military operation in January that seized former President Nicolas Maduro.

Reporting for this sectionAnadolu AjansıWashingtonpost

Talks focus on institutions

Rubio framed the goal as more than elections, telling the press, “This has to result in free and democratic elections, but not only free and democratic elections, but also the establishment of the institutions necessary to sustain that democracy.” Rubio described the talks between the Venezuelan government and Figuera’s delegation as “the best opportunity Venezuela has had in more than a generation” to recover democracy.

+1Elections plus institutions7 of 8 outlets reported it · not in Anadolu Ajansı▾

Figuera said the process is “not an easy process, but it is a possible process,” and she argued for a roadmap to guarantee elections. Figuera emphasized that the negotiations aim to advance the reinstitutionalization of Venezuela through reforms of the judicial system and the electoral body, and she said the process must also facilitate national reconciliation and create conditions for the country’s economic recovery.

Key reform targets3 of 7 outlets reported it · not in CiberCuba and 3 more▾

Reporting for this sectionAmérica EconómicaCiberCuba

Machado absence and next steps

María Corina Machado remains outside the conversations, and the sources say she has been out of Venezuela since December 2025 and does not participate at the negotiating table.

Machado absent from talks5 of 8 outlets reported it · not in Anadolu Ajansı and 2 more▾

Rubio urged opposition participation while the negotiations proceed without Machado, and the France 24 report said Rubio called on all opposition factions to join talks with the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez.

The State Department readout tied the next round beginning Oct. 14 to “finalizing the Supreme Court selection process” and to “participation guarantees necessary for credible elections,” according to Anadolu Ajansı.

Figuera said she would ensure “the path and the roadmap are in place for elections to take place,” while Rubio offered no timeline beyond the scheduled October 14 talks and continued institution-focused negotiations.

Reporting for this sectionCiberCubaFrance 24