The White House has turned down a proposal from senior Venezuelan officials that would have allowed President Nicolás Maduro to remain in power for another three years before stepping aside for his Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, to finish his term, according to an Associated Press report.
Sources familiar with the discussions told AP that the Venezuelan plan was presented as a potential path to ease U.S. sanctions and stabilize diplomatic relations. Under the proposal, Maduro would voluntarily step down in 2028, halfway through his current term, which extends until January 2031. Rodríguez would then assume the presidency to complete the remainder of the term.
However, White House officials reportedly dismissed the plan, calling it insufficient and inconsistent with Washington’s long-standing demand for free and fair elections in Venezuela. A senior U.S. official told reporters that any political transition must involve “genuine democratic processes” rather than what was described as a “power shuffle within the ruling elite.”
The rejection reflects the Biden and now Trump administrations’ continued stance that Maduro’s government lacks legitimacy, despite intermittent talks aimed at easing sanctions in exchange for human rights improvements and electoral guarantees.
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has faced international pressure and sanctions for alleged electoral fraud and human rights abuses. Meanwhile, Rodríguez has gained broader influence within his government and is widely regarded as a key ally and potential successor.
The failed proposal comes as Venezuela faces deepening economic challenges, mass emigration, and a politically fractured opposition still struggling to unify ahead of potential future elections.
