In brief
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, unveiled a revamped electoral authority that will conduct constitutional elections under international oversight and safeguard against conflict. She pledged fair participation for all political forces and ordered a review of certain state-owned assets that could be privatized. The announcement follows U.S. actions targeting former president Nicolas Maduro, adding a layer of diplomatic tension to the country’s electoral plans.
In a nationwide address on Thursday, Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez said that a “revamped” electoral authority would oversee future elections “with the world as a witness.” The announcement came in Caracas on 29 October 2026 as Russia and the United States continue to play roles in the country’s political landscape.
Rodriguez pledged that all elections required by Venezuela’s Constitution would be held with safeguards to prevent the electoral process from becoming a source of trouble or restarting “times of confrontation.” She added that her government seeks to secure genuine conditions for fair participation for all political forces, hoping elections can resolve differences instead of deepening divisions.
Alongside the electoral reforms, Rodriguez ordered a review of state-owned “non‑essential assets” that could be privatized or returned to former owners. The directive aims to streamline the country’s asset management as part of broader governance changes.
The Xinhua report also noted that the United States had brought narco‑terrorism charges against former president Nicolás Maduro before a U.S. military operation that captured Maduro in January. Maduro, who was forcibly seized and transported to New York with his wife Cilia Flores, has urged a U.S. judge to dismiss the criminal charges, arguing that he is protected by immunity as the head of a sovereign state.
