Description: Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, released dozens of political prisoners, following meetings with the US President Donald Trump at the UNGA. Although her office never confirmed that the prisoner release was the result of her meeting with Trump, her statements at the UNGA, confirmed reports that Venezuela was headed towards an election cycle. Rodriguez launched a similar push to release prisoners in Apr, which was abruptly canceled as the Venezuelan President stated that the scheme was coming to an end. The prisoner release also follows the government’s open negotiations with opposition parties in Venezuela and Rodriguez’ speech at the UNGA where she promised that Venezuela would receive its long – awaited elections, without specifying when.
Impact: Venezuela is highly likely still in a transitional phase with numerous political and judicial reforms blocking the election process in the short to mid – term period. The release of prisoners is highly likely a reconciliatory move from President Rodriguez to appease the domestic political opposition and show some traction in the reforms department to the US, as Venezuela’s new major strategic partner. The sidelining of major opposition figures such as Maria Corina Machado likely demonstrates that the US approves this slow political transition and focuses on energy and other economic partnerships for the time being. The US and President Rodriguez are likely to lead the bilateral economic partnership in parallel with the political transition, which highly likely provides Rodriguez with a dose of legitimacy all the while keeping the Venezuelan opposition satisfied in the short to mid – term period.