On Saturday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro renewed their demands directed towards Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, urging the release of official voting tallies from the recent elections. This call comes in light of a ruling from the Venezuelan Supreme Court, which reaffirmed the government’s contentious assertion that it secured victory in the July elections.

In a comprehensive joint statement, the leaders emphasized that restoring the credibility of Venezuela’s electoral process necessitates the transparent release of disaggregated and verifiable electoral data. Moreover, they expressed grave concerns regarding the increasing violence and repression by the Venezuelan government, which has resulted in the incarceration of thousands and a harsh response to protests.

This appeal from Brazil and Colombia follows a broader rejection from several Latin American nations and the United States regarding the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s certification of the election results, raising questions about the two left-leaning presidents’ positions, given their historically amicable relations with Maduro and their efforts to mediate discussions between the conflicting parties.

President Maduro’s claims of electoral success remain unsubstantiated as he has not disclosed the official voting tally sheets, which are critical in validating the electoral outcomes in Venezuela, given the difficulty in independently replicating such results. The opposition coalition has accused the Maduro administration of attempting to undermine the voting process.

Notably, opposition volunteers reported that they had collected authentic voting tallies from 80 percent of the country’s polling stations, indicating that former opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzáles emerged victorious by a margin exceeding two to one. In response, the Supreme Court has labeled these tallies as fraudulent, further compounding the existing tensions.

While acknowledging the court’s ruling, Presidents Lula and Petro conveyed their anticipation regarding the unveiling of the authentic electoral tallies. They also alerted key players in Venezuela to refrain from resorting to violent measures, as security forces have arrested over 2,000 individuals as part of a crackdown on demonstrations that emerged in response to the election results. Nonetheless, the leaders refrained from directly implicating Maduro’s government in the violent actions.

Amidst these developments, fear continues to permeate Venezuela, a country that has historically experienced severe government crackdowns during periods of political unrest. Opposition leader María Corina Machado has reportedly gone into hiding, and the Maduro administration announced plans to summon Gonzáles for sworn testimony regarding allegations of instilling panic through his contestation of the election results.

Presidents Lula and Petro have faced critiques for perceived softness towards Maduro’s administration; however, their statements have adopted a more rigorous tone in the aftermath of the contested elections. As neighboring countries, Brazil and Colombia have expressed a commitment to oversee agreements between the Maduro government and the opposition, aimed at fostering a pathway to free and fair elections, which have been accused of being undermined by Maduro.

In conclusion, the two leaders reiterated their dedication to facilitating dialogue between all parties involved, asserting that the political normalization of Venezuela hinges on the recognition of the necessity for peaceful negotiation and democratic coexistence. As articulated in their final statement, they emphasized that only through transparent communication can there be a viable resolution to the ongoing political crisis.

Related posts:

Colombian President Pushes for Democratic Elections in Venezuela The Push for New Venezuela Election Gains Support from US and Brazil Latin American Diplomatic Initiatives on Venezuela’s Political Crisis Show Signs of Decline as Maduro Fortifies His Power Brazil and Colombia Urge Transparency and Non-Violence in Venezuelan Elections