Caracas talks move toward a new Supreme Court nominations panel
Venezuela’s interim government and opposition agreed in a second round of talks to move ahead with a panel for selecting candidates for the Supreme Court of Justice. The step concerns who will assess prospective judges, a key part of the promised judicial overhaul. No election date or completed appointment of judges emerged from the agreement.
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Caracas talks advance court appointments
Venezuela’s interim government and opposition delegates agreed in a second round of talks to move ahead with the body that will assess candidates for the Supreme Court of Justice. Al Jazeera reported a seven-member review panel, while El País reported opposition delegate Dinorah Figuera’s announcement that a preliminary nominations commission would be formed. Both accounts describe steps in choosing the people who will scrutinize prospective judges, rather than a completed appointment to the court.[1], [2]
Government and opposition keep the judicial overhaul in talks
National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez represented the government side and Figuera led the opposition delegation associated with the 2015 assembly. A joint statement said the sides would continue examining legislation needed to change the judicial system. The discussions follow an August round in which the delegations agreed to overhaul the court. The current step defines a route for assessing candidates, but the future court’s judges have still to be chosen.[1], [2]
The talks leave the election calendar open
The judicial process sits inside broader negotiations after Delcy Rodriguez’s interim government took office in January. She has promised elections but set no firm date. The second round also included discussion of media restrictions and freedom of expression, El País reported. Neither account says the court panel has already delivered its list of judges or that an election date has been agreed. Another negotiating round is scheduled for next month, according to Al Jazeera.[1], [2]
