Rubio outlines Venezuela election plan, says US will not wait two years

In the United States, the Trump administration has unveiled its plan to support electoral reforms in Venezuela and lead the country toward presidential elections.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told international journalists during a press conference on Monday that Venezuela’s current electoral infrastructure was “designed to rig elections”.

As the chief architect of the administration’s Venezuela policy, Rubio argued that this system must be overhauled quickly to enable a valid vote.

According to Rubio, talks between the government of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez and opposition factions led by Dinorah Figuera are moving toward a concrete timetable.

The sides are preparing to appoint a new Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) before the end of the year, followed immediately by the renewal of the National Electoral Council (CNE).

“We obviously need to use our leverage over the interim Venezuelan authorities to ensure that the process moves forward responsibly. Our goal is to hold elections,” Rubio said, welcoming what he described as “serious progress” in that direction.

The US secretary issued a warning, saying, “Whoever tries to derail the process will do serious damage to Venezuela.”

Speaking at a separate press briefing, an unnamed senior US Department of State official outlined the step to follow institutional renewal, according to a report by the Venezuelanalysis portal.

According to the official, once both the TSJ and the CNE are reconstituted, the Venezuelan presidency will be declared permanently vacant, triggering a constitutional six-month window to conduct elections under “competitive conditions”.

The same official stressed that political guarantees must be provided and media access rules regulated during this phase.

Advocating the inclusion of pro-government factions in the “transitional period”, the official said peaceful democratic transitions often require the cooperation of outgoing groups, citing Spain and Portugal as precedents.

Electoral timetable and judicial work accelerate

Asked about a definite election date, Rubio said the Rodríguez administration had complied with US timelines so far.

Emphasising that they would not wait two years for an election, Rubio said: “That is not going to happen. In the best-case scenario, I have two years and two months left in this job.”

Rubio’s remarks coincided with statements by Dinorah Figuera, who heads the opposition delegation in the negotiations with government representatives.

Figuera had predicted that presidential elections would take place in late 2027 or early 2028.

Meanwhile, during the third round of political dialogue in Venezuela, the parties agreed to review four pieces of legislation governing political participation, pluralism, and the autonomy of political organisations, including the Law on Political Parties, Public Meetings, and Demonstrations.

The discussions also addressed disqualifications from public office and the examination of legal frameworks governing political rights.

In parallel, Venezuela’s National Assembly officially initiated the process to renew all 32 justices of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.

Applications from legal professionals seeking seats on the court will be accepted from Wednesday, 28 October until Wednesday, 11 November. The fourth round of dialogue is scheduled for 11 to 15 November.

Rodríguez and other senior Venezuelan officials have not yet commented on the US Department of State’s statements.

Machado’s return and convoy controversy

The White House’s assertions regarding Venezuelan reforms and elections coincided with the return of far-right opposition leader María Corina Machado to the country on Sunday.

Supporters of Machado, who had lived abroad for more than a year, called for their leader to be included in the ongoing negotiations.

Responding to questions about Machado’s return, Rubio said he had told the Rodríguez government “weeks ago” that she should be allowed to return to the country unhindered.

Denying claims that Washington obstructed Machado’s return, the Secretary of State said the opposition leader had merely been advised not to travel immediately following the twin earthquakes on 24 June.

Interim President Rodríguez, however, criticised the manner of the opposition politician’s return.

Characterising it as a “show” that could have been avoided, Rodríguez addressed Machado’s journey to Caracas at the head of a vehicular convoy covering 400 kilometres, following her appearance at a church in Lara state amid chants of “freedom” and calls for immediate presidential elections.

“The airports are right there. Let us stop putting on a show. Many people who benefited from this process aimed at peaceful coexistence and from the amnesty law were able to enter the country through the airport’s new transit structures,” Rodríguez said.

The interim president declined to reveal which route Machado had used to re-enter Venezuela.

Machado, who in recent years backed economic sanctions against Venezuela as well as foreign military intervention, left the country in December 2024 to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which she subsequently dedicated as a gift to Trump.

While Machado and her party maintain that the government had previously barred her from returning seven times, Venezuelan authorities deny the allegation.

Asked whether the judiciary would act against Machado, Rodríguez said she hoped to see “remorse and a change of direction” from the opposition figure, adding that the opposition leader could make “some contribution to the country”.