President says he’s still in control, ready for talks with U.S.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro cast himself as the wily survivor of a year-long struggle by the opposition at home and its allies in Washington to unseat him, and said it’s now time for direct negotiations with the United States to end political stalemate that has crippled this nation of some 30 million.

In an interview with The Washington Post — his first with a major U.S. media outlet since February — Maduro said Friday he is comfortably in charge and ready to talk. He suggested a bonanza could await U.S. oil companies should President Donald Trump lift sanctions and press the reset button on U.S.-Venezuelan relations. Yet Maduro revealed a gulf still exists between his authoritarian government and the opposition and U.S. officials who call him a dictator.

His positions on key issues suggested no quick fix to a humanitarian crisis that has led millions to flee poverty and hunger. Still, Maduro said significant changes could be in the offing if Washington opened a direct channel with him —“If there’s respect between governments ... then be sure we can create a new type of relationship.”

The U.S. and nearly 60 other nations recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó, head of Venezuela’s legislature, as the head of state after Maduro claimed reelection in a tainted 2018 vote. U.S. officials, the opposition and European powers have decried Maduro’s steps to sabotage the opposition and control the legislature, the last democratic institution in the country. The U.S. has held firm on its position that unless Maduro is willing to discuss his exit from the presidency, direct talks would likely only strengthen him.

Speaking Friday, Maduro did not display such willingness. The 57-year-old called any new presidential vote still years away and repeated his pledge to hold legislative elections this year — a vote opponents insist he would use as a tool to further consolidate power.

Maduro also claimed he learned of an April 30 conspiracy to oust him 10 days before it was sprung but allowed it to play out anyway, encouraging loyalists to pose as potential turncoats to discover the extent of a plot against him.

Maduro said he remained willing to sit down with Guaidó — but he seemed to dismiss the opposition’s key demand: that he exit in favor of a transitional government that would renovate the Supreme Court and national election councils to call new elections.

VALERY SHARIFULIN / TNS Nicolas Maduro (speaking during a rally in March) said he’s still comfortably in charge of Venezuela, despite attempts to oust him.