The Fort Worth Press - Venezuelan opposition figure heads to US after transition talks

The former lawmaker, who has Washington's backing to promote a democratic transition agenda following the fall of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro, arrived in Venezuela unexpectedly on Thursday and met with the president of the National Assembly.

"I'm going to Miami precisely to evaluate everything that follows. I have many meetings," Figuera told AFP in WhatsApp audio messages, while not specifying with whom she would meet.

Thursday's meeting in Venezuela between National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez and Figuera, who returned to Caracas after eight years of exile, "is a first step in what will be a thoughtful process to secure a free and open Venezuelan society," US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

Figuera also met with US charge d'affaires John Barrett and figures with the Unitary Platform political bloc, which is aligned with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

"There are respectable positions and points of agreement" within Venezuela's opposition bloc, Figuera told AFP.

"I am by no means the owner of this process, I feel like a supportive cofactor."

Machado, who has also been out of Venezuela since receiving her Nobel Peace Prize last year, has not yet commented on Figuera's brief return to the country.

Former president Nicolas Maduro was captured in January during a US military raid and arrested on drug trafficking charges, and the Venezuelan government has since been led by his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, on an interim basis.

Figuera said "maybe during the next" visit she will meet with the interim leader.

"I am willing to meet with all sectors," she said, without saying a specific date she planned to return.

She told AFP she was calling for the establishment of a "trustworthy, transparent" election authority, adding that "it must be an agenda that involves Venezuelans who are in Venezuela and Venezuelans who are abroad."

N.Patterson--TFWP