CARACAS (AP) — Venezuelans are watching the start of a round of U.S.-backed talks between the ruling party and the opposition on Saturday with cautious optimism after several previous negotiations failed to bring reconciliation. The talks will be led by members of Venezuela's overwhelmingly pro-government National Assembly and a group of former opposition lawmakers who previously attempted to oust Maduro. In 2023, Figuera was selected to represent opposition lawmakers from the 2015 National Assembly, which was widely regarded as Venezuela's last democratically elected institution. She has said the priority is to develop an institutional agenda that transcends the interests of Venezuela's political groups, as proposed by the Trump administration. Establishing an electoral calendar and conditions for a fair vote does not seem likely in the immediate future, they say.