After nearly 10 months abroad, María Corina Machado, the anti-Chavista opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has returned to Venezuela. “I am here, with you,” the opposition figure wrote on social media on Sunday morning.
© Vente Venezuela (EFE)
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has launched a national food security plan aimed at eliminating undernourishment by 2030, combining domestic production with an expanded distribution network and cooperation between public institutions and private businesses.
RELATED: Venezuela Oil Production Hits 1.25 Million Barrels Daily in Major Recovery
The Venezuela Alimenta Hambre Cero (Venezuela Feeds: Zero Hunger) plan was launched Saturday alongside the opening of the 250th facility in the Mercal and PDVAL food distribution networks in La Trinidad. The rollout also included the deployment of 100 mobile food outlets nationwide and the simultaneous opening of 10 supermarket-style establishments in other regions.
The new facility features a meat-cutting center for retail sales. According to the government, more than 90% of Venezuela’s food supply comes from domestic production, which it identifies as a foundation for improving access to essential goods across the country.
“All efforts, all capacities, the local economy, the large agro-industrial sector, the entire distribution and logistics network, financial resources and fuel incentives will be brought together to achieve this strategic objective,” Acting President said during a broadcast on state television channel Venezolana de Televisión.
First announced on Oct. 12, 2026, at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s World Food Forum in Rome, the plan is built around six strategic areas designed to coordinate government and private sector efforts. These include support for community-based economic activity and local entrepreneurship through a proposed Local Economy Law.
The initiative also prioritizes scientific innovation in nutrition and the development of statistical monitoring and oversight systems.
“We are very close to achieving our zero-hunger goal. We made this commitment to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), to the country and to our citizens,” Delcy Rodríguez said.
She also pointed to the effects of unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States, saying they had restricted access to financing, agricultural inputs, technology and spare parts needed to sustain domestic production chains.
Senior government officials responsible for the economy, digital government, food, youth, industry and commerce, agriculture, and science and technology attended the launch.
Private sector representatives included Ítalo Atencio, president of the National Association of Supermarkets and Self-Service Stores (ANSA), and Juvenal Arbeláez, president of the Venezuelan Chamber of the Food Industry (CAVIDEA).
The plan brings together food distribution infrastructure, domestic production and public-private cooperation as Venezuela pursues its goal of eliminating undernourishment by 2030.
The inspection covered joint projects aimed at extracting crude from national reserves. Eight of the 17 agreements involve the development of so-called green fields, new areas set aside for exploration and exploitation.
“We want to show the country the progress, to make clear that we do not leave things unfinished, that we go further: to action and to production. Once again, Zulia state broke its production record, reaching 115,000 barrels per day today,” Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said.
RELATED: U.S. Removes Venezuela From List of Countries Subject to Investment Restrictions
Rodriguez added that projections call for closing December at 120,000 barrels. The Acting President framed the tour as proof that the partnership has moved beyond paperwork into concrete output.
The cooperation framework was signed in August through North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP). The 17 strategic agreements target the extraction of 65 million barrels of crude from Venezuela’s reserves.
On maritime infrastructure and logistics, Rodriguez said activity in Zulia will jump from 100 to 900 vessels, an increase of 800% in mobilized capacity. The figure signals a major expansion of port and transport operations tied to the oil sector.
The Acting President also outlined a plan for the progressive creation of jobs driven by industrial activity. Employment will begin in the food sector, continue in ironworks and industrial areas, and later extend to public accounts with the goal of raising working-class incomes.
Rodríguez said the central objective of the alliance is to develop the hydrocarbon industry and consolidate the country’s sovereign position. She stressed that Venezuela seeks to affirm itself as the nation with the largest oil reserves on the planet and to rank among the world’s leading producers and exporters. “We want to show the country the progress of these agreements,” she said.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez insisted that rising production must translate directly into the welfare of the population. Following this, she pointed to concrete areas where the gains should appear: “In the daily life of Venezuelan men and women: in pay for workers, in health, public hospitals, schools, food, roads, water and public services. That is where Venezuela’s development goes,” she said.
The comments link oil revenue to social spending at a time when the government has promised greater transparency over hydrocarbon and mining income. The Acting President’s emphasis on hospitals, schools and food echoes longstanding official messaging that resource wealth should fund public services.
The Zulia figures mark a significant benchmark for the country’s oil industry, which has sought to recover output after years of decline. The jump from 100 to 900 vessels suggests broader commercial activity around the crude operations, beyond the wells themselves.
Eight green-field projects form part of the package, indicating that the partnership extends into undeveloped territory rather than relying solely on existing infrastructure. Rodríguez described the agreements as a path toward consolidating Venezuela’s position in global energy markets.
The inspection tour took place as the government pushes to showcase tangible results from the August accords. The Acting President’s visit to the field operations was intended to demonstrate that the agreements are generating activity on the ground, not only on paper.
The production target of 120,000 barrels by December would extend the record reported Friday. If achieved, it would reinforce the government’s narrative of recovery built around the US partnership and the state of Zulia’s role as the engine of national output.
Rodríguez closed her remarks by linking the oil gains to broader national development, arguing that the industry’s expansion must reach Venezuelans through wages and public services rather than remaining confined to export statistics.
The meeting presented the balance and details of the third cycle of conversations held in Caracas, a process that included six working sessions structured in two plenary sessions and fifteen meetings. On Wednesday, the delegations held the final plenary of the third cycle, focused on reviewing compliance with agreements on institutional matters and renewal of the judicial system.
RELATED: Venezuela Reaffirms Sovereign Control of Oil Revenue as Deals Advance
The acting president contrasted that willingness with the actions of small groups that insist on blocking streets and violence, and said the majority of the country supports joint work, as demonstrated by mobilizations of Venezuelan women during breast cancer awareness month. She said that when common interests such as women’s health and lives unite people, that is the Venezuela she recognizes.
The formal negotiation process began on August 12, when both parties agreed on a working methodology and installed technical tables to address care for victims of the June earthquakes, democratic strengthening and judicial reforms. The third cycle was installed on Wednesday the 14th with the central goal of advancing renewal of the Supreme Court of Justice and setting participation guarantees for political organizations.
As part of the commitments, the installation of the new Table 4 on Political, Economic and Social Guarantees was formalized, highlighting mediation and conciliation mechanisms under the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence and the start of discussions to create an Ombudsman for Political Guarantees and Citizen Participation. A deep review was also agreed of key legal instruments, including the Law on Political Parties, Public Meetings and Demonstrations; the Liberator Simón Bolívar Organic Law; the Organic Law against Organized Crime and Financing of Terrorism; and the Organic Law of the Comptroller General and the National Fiscal Control System, to evaluate matters related to political disqualifications.
In the institutional and judicial sphere, the work of the Preliminary Commission of the Judicial Nominations Committee was recognized after it interviewed 127 candidates from different sectors. It was announced that the next National Assembly session will appoint the 12 members of the nominations committee, allowing publication of the constitutional schedule and subsequent activation of the Credentials Review Council.
On economic and patrimonial matters, the parties reaffirmed the urgency of recovering Venezuela’s international reserve assets at the Bank of England, the Venezuelan gold, to assist the population affected by the June 24 earthquakes. They agreed to form a parity delegation to manage these actions and promote economic and social prosperity in health, education, food and workers’ income.
Julio Martínez Martínez, amigo y socio empresarial del expresidente José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero explicó ante el juez José Luis Calama, instructor del caso Plus Ultra, cómo utilizaba los contactos del expresidente en Venezuela para gestionar asuntos de sus "clientes", según consta en su declaración, a la que ha tenido acceso El Independiente. Durante el interrogatorio, Martínez Martínez reconoció que su acceso a las autoridades del país se apoyaba en su relación con el expresidente y situó a Delcy Rodríguez, entonces vicepresidenta venezolana, como su principal interlocutora en el país. Entre los encargos que describió figuran la gestión de permisos para vuelos, la búsqueda de mejores precios de combustible con la petrolera estatal PDVSA y los trámites vinculados a una concesión minera.
Julio Martínez conoció a Zapatero en 2011, cuando compró una vivienda al expresidente en Almería. A finales de 2019, ambos quedaron vinculados a la consultora Análisis Relevante, ahora también investigada por Calama, de la que Martínez era socio mayoritario, ya que el expresidente Zapatero figuraba como consultor principal. La relación entre ambos fue también, según el propio Martínez, la clave para abrirle puertas en Venezuela.
"Yo en Venezuela tengo ese acceso a todo por el señor Zapatero", declaró al explicar cómo podía realizar gestiones en el país. Y fue aún más explícito al referirse al peso que atribuía al expresidente: "Sin el señor Zapatero no podría hacer nada en Venezuela". Martínez sostuvo que ese acceso no significaba que Zapatero tuviera que intervenir personalmente en cada operación, pero sí que su relación con él le permitía desenvolverse en el entorno de las autoridades venezolanas.
Fue a través de esa conexión, según explicó, como conoció a Delcy Rodríguez. El empresario resumió que el origen de su contacto fue "a través del presidente Zapatero" En ese momento, según confirmó, Delcy Rodríguez terminó convirtiéndose en la persona a la que acudía habitualmente para trasladar los asuntos que necesitaba resolver. "Mi relación fundamental en Venezuela es con la vicepresidenta", afirmó durante el interrogatorio.
Martínez describió un procedimiento concreto en el que planteaba la cuestión a Delcy Rodríguez y, a partir de ahí, ella le dirigía al ministro o al responsable público que correspondiera. Cuando el instructor le preguntó si primero contactaba con la vicepresidenta y después trataba con el departamento competente, respondió: "Sí, siempre". Esa interlocución, según su relato, abarcaba asuntos de naturaleza muy distinta, desde operaciones aéreas hasta proyectos empresariales.
Uno de ellos estaba relacionado con el suministro de combustible. Martínez explicó que Plus Ultra arrastraba una dificultad con PDVSA por el precio que se le aplicaba al combustible y que él intervino para intentar resolverla, siempre con la ayuda de la actual presidenta de Venezuela. El socio de Zapatero también relató el caso de los vuelos chárter a la isla venezolana de Margarita vinculados a un operador polaco. Martínez Martínez explicó que el precio del combustible hacía inviable la operación, por lo que se encargó de buscar una tarifa de "cliente internacional".
Al detallar esas gestiones, Martínez volvió a situar a Delcy como su contacto inicial. A partir de ella, explicó, podía intervenir el responsable correspondiente. En función del asunto, explicó, se hablaba al Ministerio de Transportes o a PDVSA entre otros. Su declaración vincula así la interlocución política con gestiones empresariales concretas, aunque no implica que la vicepresidenta fijara personalmente los precios ni que decidiera cada trámite.
La actividad que describió no se limitaba al sector aéreo. Martínez también explicó que trabajó para los hermanos Domingo y Guillermo Amaro Chacón en relación con una importante concesión minera en Venezuela. Como ellos no podían desplazarse al país en aquel momento, asumió, según sus palabras, "toda interlocución con la parte pública".
En ese proyecto tuvo que tratar con el Ministerio de Minas y con la Corporación Venezolana de Minería (CBM). Martínez habló de numerosos trámites administrativos, permisos y gestiones ante los responsables públicos. Durante la relación, señaló, cambiaron varios ministros y presidentes de la corporación, por lo que fue necesario retomar determinadas gestiones con los nuevos responsables. También en este caso situó a la actual presidenta de Venezuela como la persona a la que acudía para abrir la interlocución con la Administración.
Otro ejemplo que aportó fue el de Turboven, una compañía vinculada a la producción de electricidad en Venezuela. Martínez explicó que le encargaron gestionar la situación de una planta que había sido ocupada por las autoridades venezolanas y tratar de que se reconociera como una expropiación. Al preguntarle ante quién había realizado esas gestiones, contestó: "Yo hago esa gestión, como siempre, ante la vicepresidenta". También relató una reunión en Caracas con ella y el propietario de la empresa.
Durante el interrogatorio, Martínez explicó asimismo que muchas de las anotaciones de su agenda correspondían a peticiones de inversores que trasladaba a sus contactos en Venezuela. Citó a interesados de distintas nacionalidades y puso como ejemplo una empresa canadiense interesada en una gran concesión minera. Según declaró, su papel consistía en hacer llegar esas solicitudes y ayudar a encauzarlas ante las autoridades competentes.
La declaración dibuja así el papel que Martínez atribuía a sus contactos. Siendo Zapatero, según su versión, la vía que le permitió acceder al entorno de las autoridades venezolanas; Delcy se convirtió en su interlocutora habitual, y desde ella canalizaba gestiones que afectaban a clientes y proyectos empresariales. No todos los asuntos eran iguales ni dependían del mismo organismo, pero el empresario describió el mismo esquema para llegar a los responsables públicos.
Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez delivered the announcement during a visit to the Nueve Raíces de Simón communal circuit, where she urged the country’s youth to prepare actively for what she described as a democratic appointment that will mark the direction of the coming year.
Rodríguez said the process aims to vindicate the talent, creativity and ingenuity of the new generations and to propel Venezuela toward fresh development opportunities. The call places younger Venezuelans at the center of a participatory model that has gathered strength since 2024.
RELATED: Venezuela to Begin Funding Projects Selected in Popular Consultation Next Week
The announcement lands days after the Second National Popular Consultation of 2026, held on October 18. It was the eighth nationwide vote of its kind since 2024, and officials described the turnout as massive and successful. That result has now been translated into a fresh appeal aimed specifically at young people, signaling the government’s intention to widen the base of participants in community decision-making.
🗳️🔥 ¡LA JUVENTUD SE PREPARA: NUEVA CONSULTA EN FEBRERO 2027!🇻🇪✨
— Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Juventud (@Minjuventud__ve) October 21, 2026
Tras una participación histórica en la pasada Consulta Nacional Popular, la ruta continúa: ¡Jóvenes de toda Venezuela a prepararse desde ya! 💪🌱
El compromiso no se detiene: es momento de seguir adelante,… pic.twitter.com/YyOteBQqLT
Text reads: “Youth is preparing: new consultation in February 2027! After a historic participation in the last National Popular Consultation, the route continues: Young people from all over Venezuela to prepare now! The commitment does not stop: it’s time to move forward, organize and execute projects that will transform our territories.”
Millions of residents from communities across the country turned out on October 18, prompting the National Electoral Council (CNE) to extend voting by one hour.
The scale of the exercise was measured in large numbers. More than 5,418 communes and communal circuits coordinated the work of over 48,000 communal councils, and voters selected among 37,205 priority community projects eligible for public financing.
Rodríguez has championed the consultation model as a vehicle for what officials call popular power. In separate remarks, she described participation in the October exercise as extraordinary, linking the strong turnout to a broader effort to place public decision-making directly in the hands of organized communities rather than distant institutions.
One of the most notable features of the October consultation was the first-time inclusion of condominium boards, which put forward 428 projects. Acting President Rodríguez celebrated that milestone on social media, underscoring the importance of keeping decisions about everyday matters firmly in the hands of communities themselves.
The proposals reflected local priorities. Acting President Rodríguez had previously detailed that 14% of the projects corresponded to the water sector, followed by initiatives in road infrastructure, lighting, electricity, public services and productive activities, showing residents directing public resources toward their most pressing daily needs.
With the youth consultation now scheduled for February 2027, the Acting President called young Venezuelans to assume what she called absolute protagonism in the process. Organizers expect the new consultation to build on the machinery tested in October and to channel the energy of younger generations into decisions that will shape the country’s near-term path.
The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions against Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and brother of the South American country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, the Treasury Department reported.
Washington has stepped on the accelerator to renew Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal. It is its first major democratizing initiative in the country and the main task of the negotiation table between the 2015 National Assembly and the government of Delcy Rodríguez, which meets again this Wednesday. The goal is to have a new court by December, but beyond the outline the United States published last week, nothing is as yet known about the timetables, the profiles sought, the procedures to challenge appointments and how civil society will take part in a process crucial to a country that is supposedly moving toward a democratic transition.
© Ariana Cubillos (AP)
The government of acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has handed Álvaro Pulido — Álex Saab’s Colombian-born associate who had been held in Caracas since 2023 — over to the United States. The transfer was announced Sunday on X by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, while the Venezuelan government has remained silent on the case.
© DEA
“There is only one president in this country and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,” Venezuela’s current interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, said on the same day as the U.S. attack that ended with the detention of the former chavista leader and his wife, Cilia Flores. Rodríguez described the military intervention in Caracas as an “illegal and illegitimate kidnapping of the president and first lady.” However, Venezuela later did not take any formal steps to demand the couple’s release or to request their immunity so they would not be tried in the United States.
© Jesus Vargas (Getty Images)
Login