Venezuela Dialogue Names Judicial Review Council, Sets Next Steps

Government and opposition delegations concluded the second round of political negotiations in Caracas on Friday, September 25, after seven working sessions and two plenaries held at the Marriott hotel. The talks were led by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez and 2015 Assembly President Dinorah Figuera.

The primary agreement establishes a Council for the Review of Credentials and Requirements for Supreme Court justice candidates. Seven jurists were named to the body: Belén Ramírez Landaeta, Rogelio Pérez Perdomo, Bernardo Pulido Márquez, Cilio Sánchez, Deyanira Nieves, Federico Fuenmayor, and María Bernardoni de Govea. This council will operate in parallel with the Judicial Nominations Committee.

“Next Monday we will announce a set of actions on the administrative and judicial measures taken against journalists and media outlets.”

Delegates also agreed that the next ordinary session of the 2025 National Assembly—currently unscheduled—will appoint a preliminary nominations committee of 11 legislators. That panel will set evaluation timelines and select 12 civil society members for the full Judicial Nominations Committee.

On press freedom, Rodríguez stated the government will continue and expand the lifting of administrative blocks on news portals and electronic media. He also announced that a set of actions regarding administrative and judicial measures against journalists would be unveiled the following Monday.

The government delegation issued a general call for all public and private media actors to contribute responsibly to democratic coexistence and national unity. A parallel agenda on radio spectrum regulation and legal instrument review was also proposed.