Chavista founder urges Delcy Rodríguez to negotiate with María Corina Machado

Francisco Arias Cárdenas, a founding figure of the chavista movement, has publicly called on Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez to open direct negotiations with opposition leader María Corina Machado, marking a rare break from the official government stance. Source: elnacionalve, infobae

The proposal

• Arias Cárdenas urged Rodríguez to "call to converse and build an agreement for dignity and national sovereignty" with Machado. Source: elnacionalve
• He suggested any agreement should be "alternative to that of Marco Rubio" but with a "Venezuelan imprint" and seek backing from regional governments and the US. Source: infobae
• This contrasts with the chavista leadership's repeated rejection of talks with Machado, whom they accuse of promoting US intervention. Source: infobae
• Diosdado Cabello, PSUV secretary-general, recently stated that there is no plan to talk with Machado, calling her a terrorist. Source: infobae

The call comes amid ongoing US-led negotiation efforts with a different opposition faction, and Machado remains barred from returning to Venezuela. Source: infobae