Venezuela Government and Opposition Agree to Overhaul Justice System

The socialist government and opposition in Venezuela have agreed to overhaul the country's justice system as part of their negotiations overseen by the United States government. The process aims to restore institutions, reinstate civil and political liberties, and eventually call for elections to enable a democratic transition. One of the key agreements reached is the nomination of new judges for the Supreme Court of Justice.

Representatives of Venezuela's 2015 National Assembly and the interim President Delcy Rodríguez's government announced their initial agreements on August 12 after five working sessions that began on August 6. The negotiating team committed to recovering Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England, assets frozen due to sanctions imposed during the Maduro regime.

The opposition leader María Corina Machado was excluded from the negotiations, eliciting mixed reactions within Venezuelan society. Two cardinals and a bishop emeritus viewed the start of the talks with approval but pointed out deficiencies in the process, offering to serve as guarantors from a 'religious and moral standpoint'.