Venezuelan diaspora groups demand inclusion in democratic transition

More than 100 Venezuelan diaspora organizations have issued a joint statement calling on the Venezuelan government and opposition to include the nearly 7.8 million citizens living abroad in dialogues regarding the country’s democratic transition and reinstitutionalization.

The organizations, which have a presence in Latin America, North America, and Europe, argue that excluding the diaspora undermines national reconciliation. They highlight that approximately five million Venezuelans living abroad are of legal age, representing roughly one-quarter of the national electoral registry.

Key demands include the expansion and strengthening of the consular network to better serve the massive diaspora. Specific proposals involve reopening or strengthening consulates, implementing mobile consular operations in high-concentration areas, and facilitating the issuance and renewal of identity documents and passports. The groups emphasize that access to consular services and political rights is a fundamental necessity for the millions of citizens currently living outside the country.