PRR: The Room Where it Happens

The first round of talks between government and opposition closed with some announcements that point in the right direction. But before diving into those, and for the purpose of making our lives simpler, we want to clarify some definitions. We’re likely to call this thing a “working group,” as it doesn’t feel so much like a negotiation table—although there’s some space to push agendas, this feels more like a group taking dictation. Also, we may refer to the parties as “government” and “opposition,” but those terms are not exact. “Government” refers to the local management appointed by the US government, and that local management holds the remnants of chavismo. And by “opposition,” in this case, we refer to the group of opposition individuals that the US invited to this process, and that apparently works as its proxy. In the same manner, sometimes a “2025 National Assembly” will slip, as well as a “2015 National Assembly,” although neither are actually a National Assembly.

According to a source close to the working group, there was more tugging over what the carefully worded statement would say than over bigger issues like the need to completely overhaul the Supreme Tribunal. In the end, they came to agreements over two major matters.

The first matter, which has been criticized as incoherent with respect to the purpose of the group, has to do with post earthquake relief efforts and the need to recover $4 billion in gold stuck at the Bank of England per orders of a British tribunal (aye, there’s the rub). The parties agreed to make a joint effort to help unfreeze those assets so they could be used for the reconstruction efforts. This was a key issue for the government, and they sort of put their foot down—as far as it would go, under the circumstances. Why? Because they want to help the victims? Or was it because they wanted to renovate the luxury yacht fleet? Most likely, neither. Chavismo needs this story to justify the lack of response to the emergency and to feed the sanctions narrative that explains why they pay hunger wages and there’s no power in half of the country. Also, they need a win. Sort of.

And for the opposition, the promise to make joint efforts for this purpose is easy. Because, what are these joint efforts? Neither government nor opposition really know what is the political and judicial process to recover the assets. They don’t know where to file the request, the appeal, the letter… Is it before the court? Or before the Crown? If there’s no legitimate government to recognize, what would the argument be to get the gold released? Guidance is required.

The second part is the juiciest, although also criticized because they are not tackling elections (the result of that discussion is promised for December). The agreement has to do with the “transformation of the justice system.” The opposition delegation easily managed to get the government to agree to the complete overhaul of the Supreme Tribunal, which would encompass replacing all the justices. Also, they will reform the rules that govern the process to elect new judges, as well as revising “other laws of the justice system.” These other laws, according to the source, have to do with legislation used to persecute opponents (such as the Law Against Hate) which could also have effects over the sentences of many political prisoners that are still behind bars. Important: as we write this report political prisoner releases are in the process of being announced.

We can expect this progress to continue as long as the US remains next door to the room where it happens.