A Negotiated Solution for Venezuela: Prospects for a Peaceful and Inclusive Settlement
Nine months after the US government and much of the international community rejected the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s claim to a new six-year presidential term based on elections widely denounced as fraudulent, the country’s political and humanitarian crisis has worsened with no immediate solution on the horizon. Efforts to broker a negotiated transition were underway for several months, but talks have stalled and it is unclear when they may resume. Though the crisis appears to have entered an uneasy stalemate, there continue to be important efforts inside the country to create the conditions for an inclusive, democratic solution and prevent violent conflict.
The US Institute of Peace, the Washington Office on Latin America, the Inter-American Dialogue and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Latin American Program are pleased to host a discussion on Tuesday, October 22nd with selected members of the Grupo Experto para Venezuela (GEV): an initiative of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) that brings together a group of 16 high-level Venezuelan experts based in the country and committed to promoting ideas for a peaceful, negotiated, constitutional solution to the country’s crisis.
Opening Remarks
Steve Hege
Senior Expert, Colombia Peace Process, United States Institute of Peace
Speakers
Pedro Nikken
Professor, Central University of Venezuela Law School
Michael Penfold
Professor, Venezuelan Institute of Advanced Studies in Administration; Fellow, Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
Margarita Lopez Maya
Technical Advisory Council, Political Studies Center, Andres Bello Catholic University
Hiram Gaviria
President, Únion y Entendimiento (Puente) Party
Orlando Ochoa
Independent economist and consultant
Moderator
Geoff Ramsey
Assistant Director for Venezuela, Washington Office on Latin America