“It’s disrespectful, it’s obscene(猥亵的；可憎的), it’s spitting in their faces.” That is how Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela’s rubber-stamp(橡皮图章式的；不加审议就批准的) National Assembly, described the idea of discussing institutional reforms just weeks after two big earthquakes struck the country. He should have asked the victims.(他本该去问问灾民。) “Any change that removes power from the current government in any way is positive,” says Francis Riascos, camped(露营；临时居住) by the rubble and hoping to find his brother’s body.
“这是不尊重，是猥亵，是往他们脸上吐唾沫。”委内瑞拉橡皮图章式的国民议会主席豪尔赫·罗德里格斯如此形容在地震发生仅数周后讨论制度改革的提议。他本该去问问灾民。“任何以任何方式削弱现政府权力的变革都是积极的，”弗朗西斯·里亚斯科斯说，他露宿在废墟旁，希望能找到哥哥的遗体。
Nor did Mr Rodríguez convince Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, who has wielded enormous influence in Venezuela since special forces seized the dictator Nicolás Maduro in January.(罗德里格斯也没能说服美国国务卿卢比奥，后者自1月特种部队抓获马杜罗以来在委内瑞拉影响力巨大。) Three days after Mr Rodríguez slammed(猛烈抨击) the idea, he U-turned(180度大转弯；彻底改变立场) and announced talks with the opposition on exactly such matters. Mr Rubio soon conspicuously(明显地；惹人注目地) praised the plan.
罗德里格斯先生也没能说服美国国务卿马尔科·卢比奥。自1月份特种部队抓获独裁者尼古拉斯·马杜罗以来，卢比奥在委内瑞拉拥有巨大影响力。在罗德里格斯抨击该提议三天后，他来了个180度大转弯，宣布就这些事宜与反对派进行谈判。卢比奥很快高调赞扬了这一计划。
Talks began in person(亲自；面对面) on August 6th. The United States chose Dinorah Figuera to lead the opposition team. She was the president of the National Assembly elected in 2015, the last Venezuelan legislature recognised by the United States. The other five negotiators are also exiled(被流放的) deputies from the same assembly. The regime’s team is led by Mr Rodríguez. His sister, Delcy Rodríguez, is the interim(临时的；过渡的) president and was Mr Maduro’s deputy.
谈判于8月6日面对面开始。美国选择迪诺拉·菲格拉领导反对派团队。她是2015年当选的国民议会主席，该议会是美国承认的最后一个委内瑞拉立法机构。其他五位谈判代表也是来自同一议会的流亡议员。政权团队由罗德里格斯先生领导。他的妹妹德尔西·罗德里格斯是临时总统，曾是马杜罗的副手。
Remaking democracy
重塑民主
Missing Machado
马查多缺席