The coordinator of the Program for Peace and Coexistence, Ernesto Villegas, highlighted that the project promoted by the President (e) of the Republic, Delcy Rodríguez, is an initiative for all Venezuelans to participate in the dialogue, who are united – above all differences – by the love for Venezuela and the desire for the country to return to the path of peace and democratic coexistence.
He added that the program has the mandate to promote dialogue and build joint formulas, listening to the experiences and opinions of all participating sectors.
In that sense, he stressed that confrontation must know how to delimit itself, since the search for dialogue and encounter does not imply giving up debate; On the contrary, this must be channeled in a democratic framework that avoids the destruction of the country and family relationships. Therefore, he stated that the central objective is to maintain debates based on mutual respect.
«Politics is always full of disagreements and crossroads; but always, in the end, everything leads to the word. Even in the most terrible events, it is the word that ends up prevailing,” he stated during an interview with the Venezolana de Televisión channel (VTV).
He indicated that the program has a vocation for permanence, so that, in the coming months, there can be a space where the agreements that the country needs to travel along a path of peace and coexistence can be promoted and fostered.
“To guarantee that there are no children who suffer bombings, to guarantee that the country that wants to work, that wants there to be economic development that translates into well-being for all, can achieve that goal, and that there are no political agendas that end up sabotaging that national aspiration,” he expressed.
99% of Venezuelans feel proud to be Venezuelans
Ernesto Villegas said that one of the points that the president touched on when placing him in charge to lead the Program for Peace and Coexistence, was the survey of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), where it is expressed in the data for November – December 2025, that 99% of Venezuelans feel proud of their nationality.
Likewise, he explained that 84% are committed to dialogue and agreements. However, he indicated that this should not be confused with weakness or to be used as a shortcut to impose paths that have already been followed. “Venezuela has very recent wounds with unnecessary episodes of violence,” he recalled.
Proposed reception of former president Zapatero
Villegas reported that, given the experience of former Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in various dialogue processes in the country, the invitation was extended for him to give his contributions.
He explained that the former president made a very valid statement: to incorporate writers, intellectuals and artists who are committed to peace, so that the project becomes a movement to support dialogue in different areas.
The war imposed from outside
Given the constant attacks on Venezuela, Villegas said that the war is imposed from outside, not within the country, and that the majority who live in the Bolivarian nation want peace.
There are factors that are outside Venezuela that continue to bet on the repetition of regrettable scenarios that have already been experienced, and he classified that these actors are a minority.
He called for blackmail and violence to be put aside, because the peace of the country is much more important.
