In the fifth attempt at political negotiations of the last seven years, both the ruling Chavismo and the opposition will have nine seats at the table. The forces that oppose Nicolás Maduro have already selected their envoys, but the ruling party has only disclosed the name of three of its representatives.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding that formally began the process on August 13 was the result of six months of talks and no less than 14 meetings between representatives of the Maduro government and the sector headed by Juan Guaidó.

The opposition delegation includes two diplomatic representatives of the interim government (Mariela Magallanes and Carlos Vecchio) and three political leaders with experience in processes of this type (Luis Aquiles Moreno, who participated in the rounds of dialogue of 2016 and 2017-2018, Roberto Enríquez, who participated in the 2014 talks, and Gerardo Blyde, who took part in the 2019 rounds).

Besides the participation of the four biggest opposition parties (Acción Democrática, Primero Justicia, Voluntad Popular, and Un Nuevo Tiempo), a quota has been reserved for the minority parties that make up the unitary platform, represented by Causa Radical and Copei. Some of the envoys were proposed by the umbrella organization Frente Amplio (Broad Front) and a few others by civil society.

The ruling chavismo is represented by Jorge Rodríguez, who has taken part in all previous rounds, and Nicolás Maduro Jr., who makes a debut in the role of negotiator.

Get to know the participants of the new round of negotiation mediated the Kingdom of Norway below:

On behalf of the opposition

Gerardo Blyde. A constitutional lawyer graduated from Andrés Bello Catholic University. He was mayor of the Baruta municipality for two terms (2008-2013 and 2013-2017) and a member of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2005. He was a member of Un Nuevo Tiempo and Primero Justicia, where he held the position of secretary-general for two years.

Carlos Vecchio. Interim government ambassador to the United States. He is the national coordinator of Voluntad Popular. In 2016, the government rejected his incorporation into the opposition delegation for that year’s round of dialogue. He is a lawyer who graduated from the Central University of Venezuela, with a postgraduate degree in tax law, a master’s degree in public administration, and a specialization in international taxes at Harvard University, in the United States.

Tomás Guanipa. A former diplomatic representative of the interim government in Colombia and a member of the National Assembly from 2015 to 2020. He is the current secretary-general of Primero Justicia. He has a degree in Administration with a specialization in business management.

Mariela Magallanes. Former member of the National Assembly and diplomatic representative of the interim government in Italy. She is a member of Causa Radical. She was nominated by the Frente Amplio de Mujeres (Women’s Broad Front), a body that brings together politicians and sectors of civil society.

Roberto Enriquez. A political scientist, chairman of Copei, and former member of the National Assembly. He took refuge in the Chilean embassy in Caracas for more than four years to escape persecution by the Maduro government.

Luis Emilio Rondón Hernández. Former member of the National Assembly. Deputy chairman of Un Nuevo Tiempo. He holds a Ph.D. in developmental studies.

Luis Aquiles Moreno. Former member of the National Assembly. General Undersecretary of Acción Democrática. He belongs to the party wing under the control of Henry Ramos Allup.

Claudia Nikken. Lawyer and professor at the Central University of Venezuela. She is a specialist in administrative and constitutional law and a member of the Civic Forum. Nikken inherited her interest in negotiation processes from her father, Dr. Pedro Nikken.

On behalf of chavismo

Jorge Rodríguez. President of the National Assembly under Chavista majority. He was rector and president of the National Electoral Council. He is a psychiatrist who graduated from the Central University of Venezuela. During the Chavista administration, he has held the positions of minister, executive vice president of the Republic, and mayor of Caracas. His name is included in the sanctions list of the United States Department of the Treasury, the European Union, and the government of Canada. He has participated in all negotiation rounds.

Héctor Rodríguez. A lawyer and currently Governor of the state of Miranda. He has been a minister, both under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, and a member of the National Assembly.

Nicolás Maduro Guerra. He calls himself an economist and musician on social media. He is the son of ruler Nicolás Maduro and a member of the National Assembly under Chavista majority. He has also been sanctioned by the United States.

Translated by José Rafael Medina