In a recent statement released from Mexico City, leaders from Brazil and Colombia have firmly urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to disclose the official vote tallies from the contentious elections held in July. This call comes in light of the Venezuelan Supreme Court’s endorsement of the government’s disputable claims regarding their electoral victory, a decision met with skepticism from numerous Latin American nations and the United States.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro emphasized that the restoration of credibility within the electoral process necessitates the transparent publication of disaggregated and verifiable data. They expressed concern over the escalating violence and repression in Venezuela, pointing out that the government has imprisoned thousands and responded to public demonstrations with aggression.

The joint statement was issued a day after other regional leaders and U.S. officials expressed their rejection of the Supreme Court’s certification of the election outcome. Observers had been keenly awaiting the reaction of Lula and Petro, who are viewed as allies of President Maduro and have previously facilitated negotiations between the conflicting parties in Venezuela.

Despite Maduro’s assertions of electoral triumph, his administration has yet to release the official tally sheets, which are regarded as the most credible count of the votes in the country. The opposition coalition claims that Maduro has attempted to manipulate the election results, citing that independent volunteers gathered evidence suggesting that former opposition candidate Edmundo González won decisively, with a ratio exceeding two to one. In response, the Venezuelan Supreme Court has accused those tallies of being fabricated.

While both Lula and Petro acknowledged the court’s ruling, they reinforced the necessity for the release of the voting records. They also cautioned against any acts of violence or repression, referencing the recent arrest of over 2,000 individuals amidst protests against the election results, although they refrained from directly attributing the violence to the Maduro regime. This recent wave of arrests amplifies a climate of fear within Venezuela, a country with a history of severe governmental crackdowns during political upheaval.

Additionally, notable opposition leader María Corina Machado has reportedly gone into hiding, and the government has announced intentions to summon González for sworn testimony regarding his challenge to the electoral outcomes, alleging that he contributed to a state of panic among the populace.

While Lula and Petro have faced criticism for their previous leniency towards Maduro’s administration, their rhetoric has become increasingly assertive following the election incident. Both leaders, representing neighboring countries, have been instrumental in brokering agreements aimed at fostering free and fair elections in Venezuela, agreements that many believe Maduro has contravened. Seeking to reinforce their commitment to facilitating dialogue between the government and opposition, the statement concluded that the political normalization of Venezuela hinges upon the recognition that sustainable solutions can only emerge from peaceful dialogue and democratic coexistence.

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