Venezuela's National Assembly approves memorandum of understanding between government and opposition

Venezuela's National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding signed between the government and the opposition last week with the start of a dialogue process that both sides have described as "constructive" and which is expected to continue in September.

The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, declared that the government "is going to stay in the dialogue" and that he expects the opposition "to do the same", describing the approval of the document as "a sovereign act".

He also recalled the "call to the international community" in the dialogue process and reiterated "that if they really want to help this process move forward, they should stop threatening and pressuring Venezuela", according to official press reports.

The Venezuelan National Assembly's approval implies "endorsing" the document and reaffirming "the commitment to the permanent development of the necessary dialogues to ensure peace, strengthen democracy and contribute to development and independence", according to VTV.

President Nicolás Maduro thanked the National Assembly for the act and shared the memorandum, which was published in the country's La Gaceta. "I am grateful for the support and approval of the deputies of the National Assembly," he said on his Twitter account.

The memorandum of understanding states that the dialogue and negotiation process will be based on several points, including the lifting of sanctions and the restoration of rights, electoral guarantees, political coexistence, the renunciation of violence and the protection of the economy.

The dialogues are led by the president's government and the Unitary Platform, formed by four opposition parties, including Henrique Capriles' Primero Justicia and Leopoldo López and Juan Guaidó's Voluntad Popular.