Elections in Venezuela Shrouded in Uncertainty

Delcy Rodríguez poses with Trump during her visit to New York for a meeting of the General Assembly of the UN. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

 On September 23, 2026, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez promised free elections in Venezuela in the near future at the General Assembly of the United Nations. After the removal of narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro from power on January 3, 2026, Rodriguez—Maduro’s right-hand woman and vice president at the time—assumed the role of interim president on January 5. However, according to Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, when there is a power vacuum, the interim president has to call for an election within 30 days of the swearing-in ceremony. Moreover, Article 234 stipulates that the interim president can remain in office for a 180-day grace period that expired on July 3rd, 2026. 

Although the Venezuelan community widely supports Nicolas Maduro’s arrest, Venezuela’s future political climate seems uncertain. The U.S. government's position on Venezuela's political climate remains ambiguous. Government officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Venezuelans that free and fair elections were the priority and final goal of the U.S.-led political transition in Venezuela. However, President Donald Trump has held meetings  with Rodriguez throughout this transition time, with the most recent one being a personal meeting in New York before Rodriguez’s speech at the UN. 

Trump stated that Venezuelans are “really happy,” with only Trump seeing Rodriguez as an ameliorative factor. These remarks are increasing the Venezuelan population's discontent with Trump's government and how they are approaching the nation’s political reconstruction. Trump’s highlights focus on how  Rodriguez is boosting Venezuela's economy and refreshing the spirit of the citizens. However, Venezuelans' perception of Rodriguez is more or less the same as Nicolas Maduro because both are part of Chavismo, the regime’s political party that has ruled for 28 years without any free elections since 2004.

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's main opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate, has been discouraged by the U.S. from returning to Venezuela. After the double earthquake on June 24, 2026, Machado expressed her interest in returning to Venezuela to grieve. Rather than urging Machado to return to Venezuela, President Trump praised Rodriguez, saying that “she will make Venezuela great again,” and there was no need for Machado to return. This suggests Trump sees Machado’s return as potentially destabilizing, since the regime already controls the situation. As a result, the U.S. government’s decision to keep the principal presidential candidate from returning raises uncertainty about Venezuela’s political transition. 

On October 9, 2026, Secretary of State Rubio met with the former president of the last constitutional Venezuelan General Assembly and the leader of political negotiations with the regime, Dinorah Figuera, giving a ray of light to the Venezuelans hoping for change. This meeting reassured Venezuelans about “100 percent support” from the White House for political reconciliation, led by free elections in the country. Additionally, the meeting addressed a complete reconstruction of Venezuela’s government branches to guarantee a lasting democracy.

The U.S. Department of State released the upcoming negotiation points between the regime and the opposition, mainly focusing on rebuilding an independent Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, TSJ). The negotiation committee predicts that by December 2026, 32 new judges would be selected by the negotiation delegation to reform repressive laws. Moreover, the release of more political prisoners is expected, along with allowing exiled politicians to return home without fear of persecution or prosecution. Once these points are achieved, the delegation will start rebuilding the national electoral council to achieve the free elections that Venezuelans yearn for. 

Despite Rodríguez’s promise of free elections at the United Nations, no date has been set, and the constitutional deadlines to call a vote expired months ago. Rodriguez is currently violating Venezuela’s constitution, while receiving the support of President Trump. The United States continues to send contradictory signals: it pledges “100 percent support” for a democratic transition, yet it praises Rodríguez and discourages Machado from returning home. 

For many Venezuelans, little has changed since January 3. Maduro is gone, but Chavismo remains in power, and Rodríguez, his closest ally, is still at the head of the government. The negotiations led by Dinorah Figuera, which aim to rebuild the Supreme Court and free political prisoners, offer a cautious reason for hope. Until those promises become concrete actions, Venezuela’s democratic future remains clouded by uncertainty.