3,6×more mentions of dialogue and negotiation on state TV this week than its average for the year · On opposition channels, the same topic rose 4.4 times.
2,7×more mentions of María Corina Machado on state TV this week than its average for the year · Machado is not part of the talks.
Former judge María Lourdes Afiuni was granted full freedom on Friday and her case was permanently closed, her family said, El Nacional reported. Afiuni was arrested in December 2009 after Hugo Chávez publicly criticized her decision to grant conditional release to businessman Eligio Cedeño.
Her brother Nelson Afiuni and her lawyer Thelma Fernández said the decision closes a chapter marked by human rights violations, according to AP, as carried by Cadena 3. David Placeres opened his show with the news of her release.
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The government delegation led by Jorge Rodríguez and the 2015 National Assembly delegation led by Dinorah Figuera held their second day of talks in Caracas, with journalists barred, El Pitazo reported. The first round runs until August 12. María Corina Machado and Edmundo González are not taking part.
The U.S. embassy in Caracas welcomed the talks, as read out by Daniel Lara Farías, who warned that without dollarization public discontent will not ease. David Placeres said Diosdado Cabello lashed out at dissident chavistas such as Iris Varela and Freddy Bernal.
«The United States welcomes the arrival in Caracas of the delegation of Venezuela's 2015 National Assembly»— U.S. Embassy in Caracas (quoted by Daniel Lara Farías), August 7, 2026 · watch
«Popular discontent is not about a lack of elections, popular discontent is about a lack of food»— Daniel Lara Farías, August 7, 2026 · watch
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Relatives of political prisoners and activists gathered on Friday outside the Foreign Ministry in Caracas under the slogan "Freedom without borders," AlbertoNews reported. They asked for IACHR and International Red Cross visits to detention centers and for the release of political prisoners to be part of the negotiations.
Andreína Baduel, of the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, also asked that the UN Fact-Finding Mission be allowed in, the same outlet reported. VPItv had announced the protest on Wednesday.
«The protest seeks to demand entry for international protection bodies and the full restoration of the rights of released prisoners»— VPItv, August 5, 2026 · watch
