Calls for New Elections in Venezuela Rejected by Opposition
The presidents of Brazil and Colombia are advocating for new elections in Venezuela following the contested victory of Nicolás Maduro. However, the opposition has rejected this proposal, denouncing Maduro for impeding a “political transition.”
During a phone call on Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro individually implored Maduro to consider holding fresh elections. They stressed the necessity of a fair electoral process that includes participation from all candidates and international observers.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims to have defeated Maduro, have firmly opposed the idea of new elections. They argue that it would disregard the will of the people already expressed in the July 28 elections.
González Urrutia accused Maduro of toying with the lives of millions by refusing to accept defeat, emphasizing the urgent need for a political solution to address the deteriorating economy in Venezuela.
In response, Maduro reiterated that conflicts in Venezuela should be resolved through the country’s institutions, laws, and Constitution, and evaded direct mention of holding a new election.
The United States has also weighed in on the situation, with President Joe Biden signaling support for new elections. The White House later clarified Biden’s statement, with a spokesman stating that the US believes it is “abundantly clear” that González Urrutia won the election.
Maduro dismissed foreign leaders’ statements, stressing that Venezuela would not conduct diplomacy through public announcements and highlighting the country’s sovereignty in managing its domestic affairs.
Despite the opposition’s allegations of fraud and calls for a new election, the country’s CNE electoral council declared Maduro the winner of a third, six-year term. However, the opposition claims that detailed polling station-level results show González Urruita as the clear winner.
The rejection of Maduro’s victory claim by the US, European Union, and several Latin American countries has heightened the tensions in Venezuela, leading to anti-Maduro protests and significant casualties.
In addition to the political turmoil, Maduro’s regime has been passing laws in the National Assembly to regulate NGOs, which critics view as an attempt to criminalize Maduro’s opponents. This legislative offensive has raised concerns among rights activists, who fear heightened persecution of Maduro’s critics.
Venezuela has been grappling with a severe economic crisis and a mass exodus of its citizens in recent years. With the deepening political and humanitarian crisis, the call for new elections in Venezuela seems to be at a standstill, as Maduro’s government remains firm in its position.
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