Maduro holds rare dialogue with opponents

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (2nd L) sings the national anthem during a meeting with the opposition's newly elected mayors and governors at Miraflores Palace in Caracas December 18, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Grassroots needs

The president's opponents sat stone-faced through Maduro's opening speech at the meeting, which was broadcast live on local TV, but then did not hold back when allowed to give ripostes.

The opposition's main leader, Miranda state Governor Henrique Capriles, chose not to attend, saying he did not oppose dialogue but felt the government was imposing conditions.

He complained about the government's undermining of local authorities in opposition hands by creating parallel bodies. In various opposition-controlled areas, the government has named alternative "protectors" and organizations funded by the state.

Caracas Mayor Ledezma, for example, saw his losing rival Ernesto Villegas immediately given a post for the "revolutionary transformation" of the capital after the December 8 local vote.

He called on Maduro to focus on grassroots concerns such as annual inflation of 54 percent, scarcities of products from flour to milk, and service failures.

"We came here to talk about the most urgent needs of Venezuelans," Ledezma told Maduro at the meeting, also urging him to consider an amnesty for jailed opponents.

In an unusual move, state TV broadcast Ledezma's remarks and then a stream of other opposition leaders' often highly critical speeches at the meeting. For several hours, the mayors bombarded Maduro with complaints on a plethora of issues from street-lights and water shortages to delayed disbursements of funds.

"I think Maduro is trying to lower the tension a bit," local pollster Luis Vicente Leon said.

"We should always applaud any attempt at reconciliation and opening ... However, it's early to judge if this is serious and real or just strategy ... Chavez used this tactic often in the past and then simply carried on, but with the perception that he had made an effort at reconciliation."

Some of the opposition mayors warmly praised Maduro for starting a dialogue, one walking up and giving him a bear hug.

"Dialogue is not weakness, it doesn't mean negating our principles or beliefs, it's a symptom of political maturity, it strengthens democracy," Tweeted opposition governor Henri Falcon from the meeting.

While the government heads into 2014 with major economic headaches, Venezuela's opposition faces a period of soul-searching and a possible leadership challenge to Capriles.

The opposition had appeared to be heading for a better result at the December 8 polls until Maduro launched an "economic offensive" last month, sending soldiers and inspectors into shops to force retailers to cut prices.

The move proved a hit with voters, but Wall Street analysts have dismissed it as short-term populism that could worsen the country's economic problems in 2014.