Rodríguez: Venezuela must regain economic freedom and democracy

The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, who heads the Venezuelan government delegation in the dialogue with the opposition in Mexico, said Saturday that it is time for the country to regain economic freedom and return to the democratic path.

"We have been working on partial agreements (...) we are attentive that the economic guarantees that were taken away from the country are returned. It is time to recover economic freedom and return to the democratic path," Rodríguez told the media after the second day of negotiations in Mexico City.

Rodríguez pointed out that the dialogue with the opposition is taking place in "a cordial atmosphere", which he considered a positive element.

"The work is very hard, we are going to have to sweat it out and I believe that the Venezuelan government is willing to put all our efforts into achieving partial agreements soon," he said.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian embassy, the country driving the dialogue process, published a photograph on Twitter showing the negotiating table where both sides were seated. "We are pleased to publish the first official photo of the full negotiation process in Mexico between the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the United Platform of Venezuela, facilitated by Norway and accompanied by the Netherlands and Russia," it said.

Regarding the dialogue, the Norwegian ambassador to Mexico, Ragnhild Imerslund, thanked the Aztec country for "hosting the negotiation process" facilitated by Norway. "We are partners and allies to solve conflicts in a peaceful manner," she said on Twitter.

On the same social network, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard welcomed the representatives of both sides to the second round of negotiations in Mexico. "We wish them every success," he wrote.

Hours earlier, the leader of the Venezuelan Unitary Platform delegation, Gerardo Blyde, declared, prior to the start of the day's negotiations, that they came to this process in search of a solution to the humanitarian crisis in the South American country. He also said that they are seeking to build a way back to institutions and democracy.

Meanwhile, the president in charge of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, said Saturday on Twitter that in the negotiation process in Mexico City "we are looking for a National Salvation Agreement to address the emergency, achieve conditions for free elections and the rescue of democracy".

On Friday, Guaidó had said that "there are no conditions for a free and fair electoral process in Venezuela" and that is why they were in Mexico, because "we are fighting to achieve those conditions".

The second phase of the talks between the opposition and the Venezuelan government began on Friday in Mexico, where the ruling party arrived with a larger delegation and concrete demands for an end to international sanctions.

This second stage follows the first talks from 13 to 15 August in Mexico, where the delegations signed a memorandum of understanding to define a common agenda.

With this process, promoted by Norway and in which Mexico is only participating as a host country, the opposition is demanding "free" elections in the regional elections on 21 November, while President Nicolás Maduro is seeking the lifting of international sanctions.