Venezuela Pledges Elections at UN After 8 Months of Interim Rule
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 23
Venezuela Pledges Elections at UN After 8 Months of Interim Rule
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 23
Summary
Delcy Rodríguez told the UN General Assembly that Venezuela will hold elections and transition to a “full democracy,” but gave no date and said Venezuelans will decide when the timing is right.
Rodríguez said the transition is already underway through legal reforms and talks with opposition sectors, promising a transparent, inclusive and verifiable process with equal competition.
The announcement comes more than 8 months after US forces captured Nicolás Maduro, with Rodríguez seeking to legitimize her interim government while thanking Donald Trump for his willingness to resume diplomacy.
Pressure on that pledge remains high: opposition leader María Corina Machado was denied entry to Venezuela 3 times a day earlier, and critics say little democratic progress has been made under Rodríguez.
The election promise also lands as Venezuela is still reeling from the June 24 earthquakes that killed more than 6,500 people, a disaster that has tested the interim government’s credibility at home and abroad.
Will the devastating $19.6 billion earthquake damage ultimately force Venezuela to fully surrender to international financial demands?
Can a promised democratic transition truly happen when the government deliberately excludes prominent opposition leaders from the table?
How much sovereignty is Venezuela secretly trading to Washington in exchange for this unprecedented 100-year oil concession?
After Maduro: How U.S. Oversight, Oil Deals, and Delayed Elections Are Shaping Venezuela’s Future
Overview
After U.S. special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, Delcy Rodríguez became Venezuela’s acting president, but real power shifted to Washington. The U.S. established direct control over Venezuela’s oil and finances, requiring the interim government to seek approval for spending and granting American companies 100-year oil concessions. Despite promises of democratic elections, both the U.S. and Rodríguez delayed setting a date, sidelining opposition leader María Corina Machado and blocking her return. Public optimism quickly faded as economic hardship, government incompetence—especially after a devastating earthquake—and lack of real reform fueled resentment, leaving Venezuela a de facto U.S. protectorate with growing instability.