Venezuela's Rodriguez tells UN elections will be held, no date set

September 24, 2026 at 06:26 AM2 min

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Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that elections will be held as part of a transition to full democracy, without giving a date. She said her government has opened political dialogue with opposition sectors to ensure equal conditions. Rodriguez took over after a US military raid in January abducted former leader Nicolas Maduro, who is now awaiting trial in New York.

Key Facts

Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly that elections will be held in Venezuela but gave no specific date.
She said her government has started a political dialogue with opposition sectors to secure equal conditions for all.
Rodriguez took over as interim president after a US military raid in January abducted Nicolas Maduro, who now awaits trial in New York.
This is the first trip to the US by a Venezuelan head of state since Maduro attended the UNGA in 2018.
Rodriguez met briefly with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the assembly on Tuesday to discuss restructuring Venezuela's sovereign debt.

Election Announcement

Rodriguez told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Venezuela would hold elections as part of a transition to full democracy, without giving a specific date. She said the Venezuelan people will determine the best time to get elections moving and assured the UN that institutions will be prepared to guarantee an inclusive and transparent process. Rodriguez stated that her government has started a political dialogue with opposition sectors to secure a process based on equal conditions for all.

US-Venezuela Relations

Rodriguez's participation in the UN General Assembly marks a milestone in Venezuela's reintegration into global diplomacy after the US military raid that removed Maduro in January. She thanked US President Donald Trump for being willing to resume relations and met with him briefly on the sidelines of the assembly on Tuesday. Trump and Rodriguez discussed restructuring Venezuela's billions of dollars in sovereign debt. Critics say Washington has sidelined the Venezuelan opposition, dropping demands for free elections in favour of oil and investment deals with the interim government.

Rodriguez's UN Address

Rodriguez said Venezuela is coming back strong after setbacks suffered this year and declared, "Today, Venezuela is being reborn." She acknowledged the road ahead would not be easy, saying rebuilding the national soul will be the priority.