Opposition figure in Venezuela to kick off reconciliation talks with ruling party

A prominent Venezuelan opposition figure arrived from Spain on Wednesday for the first round of talks with the government, in what many hope could pave the way for a political transition and new elections following the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Dinorah Figuera, a former national lawmaker who has been living in exile, will meet with the government's chief negotiator Jorge Rodriguez, who is the president of the National Assembly and the brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

According to the official agenda released by both sides, the two will talk about the response to the twin earthquakes of June 24, which left more than 6,000 dead, as well as the strengthening of democracy and political rights.

The Washington-backed talks come seven months after deposed president Nicolas Maduro was captured by the US military, with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez governing under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Notably absent from the talks is Venezuela's leading opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, who has said she will not stand in the way of the process.

Figuera arrived at Barcelona airport, about 240 kilometers east of Caracas, accompanied by other opposition members.

"We are focused on the official opening this week of this dialogue process, which seeks the restoration of democratic institutions," Figuera said in an interview with the TV station Televen upon her arrival at the airport.

She has notably called for changes to the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Electoral Council, two institutions widely criticized for validating Maduro's disputed 2024 reelection. The opposition rejected the result, claiming victory and alleging widespread electoral fraud.

Figuera heads the opposition bloc that won a majority in the 2015 National Assembly, the last legislature elected in a vote widely recognized