Talks between the Venezuelan government and a coalition of opposition parties have reached a stalemate which facilitators from the Vatican are hoping to break.<br /><br /> The Democratic Unity Round Table said it would sit out further meetings unless President Nicolas Maduro’s leftist administration made concessions.<br /><br /> It says the government has failed to keep electoral and foreign aid promises.<br /><br /> Jesus Torrealba, Secretary General of the Democratic Unity Round Table said:<br />“There was no meeting with the government today. And in the meeting with the mediators, a joint proposal was made to reactivate and relaunch the dialogue process so that it is useful to the country and has results.”<br /><br /> A recent recession and spiralling inflation in the oil-rich nation have left millions unable to find or afford food. Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, has been blamed for the situation. But he has vowed to stay in office until his term ends in 2019. <br /><br /> Mayor of Caracas, Jorge Rodriguez, gave this show of support for the president:<br />“The Bolivarian government of Venezuela does not bend to nor accept any ultimatums, nor does it accept any type of pressure from any power in the world.”<br /><br /> Opposition parties are vying to oust Maduro through a recall referendum. Opinion polls suggest the leader has an approval rating of around 20 percent.<br />
