In a concerted effort to address the crisis in Venezuela, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have publicly urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to disclose the official voting tallies from the recent elections. This call comes in the wake of the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s support for the government’s controversial declaration of electoral victory, which has been met with skepticism both domestically and internationally.

In their joint statement on Saturday, the leaders emphasized that restoring the credibility of Venezuela’s electoral process necessitates the transparent publication of disaggregated and verifiable data. They highlighted the importance of accountability and transparency in governance, particularly in a context where allegations of repression and violence against dissenting voices have escalated.

The situation has been further complicated by reports of widespread arrests and violent suppression of protests against the electoral results. Amidst claims by the opposition coalition that the elections were marred by irregularities, Maduro continues to assert his victory while withholding the critical official tallies that serve as the definitive record of the voting outcome. According to opposition volunteers, independent tallies retrieved from approximately 80% of polling stations indicate that former opposition candidate Edmundo González won the election by a substantial margin, a claim that has been dismissed by the Venezuelan authorities as fraudulent.

Both Lula and Petro acknowledged the Supreme Court’s ruling but stressed that it does not negate the ongoing demand for the release of the election results. They called upon all parties in Venezuela to refrain from resorting to violence and emphasized the necessity of peaceful dialogue to achieve political normalization. Notably, their previous positions towards Maduro’s government have faced critique for being overly conciliatory; however, the recent events appear to have prompted a more assertive stance from both leaders, particularly in light of escalating tensions in the region.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating constructive dialogue between the opposing factions in Venezuela, recognizing that the path to legitimate governance hinges upon peaceful coexistence and democratic processes. This situation continues to unfold in a complex political landscape, with significant implications for regional stability and governance in Latin America.

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