Marco Rubio says elections in Venezuela could be held in 2027, after electoral, judicial and security reforms

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that free elections in Venezuela could ideally be held in 2027, but only after institutional, economic and security reforms are carried out. The U.S. official did not guarantee that the vote would be organized before President Donald Trump’s term ends.

In an interview with The New York Times at the White House, Rubio said Venezuela must renew its Supreme Court and National Electoral Council. The country must also make progress on restructuring more than $200 billion in debt and reform its security forces.

The remarks came a week after the Trump administration supported a roadmap negotiated between the government in Caracas and part of the opposition. The document calls for reforming the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Council.

Rubio hopes the Supreme Court reform will be completed by mid-December. Negotiators are scheduled to discuss the appointment of new members of the electoral authority next week. After the reforms are completed, Delcy Rodriguez is expected to declare the presidency vacant, opening a six-month window for elections to be called.

Washington is also pursuing a possible legal agreement on the presence of U.S. forces in Venezuela.