The advisor for international affairs of the Brazilian Government, Celso Amorim, declared this Tuesday that in the recent elections in Venezuela “the principle of transparency was not respected”, so the proclaimed victory of the president, Nicolás Maduro, cannot be recognized.
Amorim, who was chancellor during the first two terms (2003-2010) of the current ruler, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, appeared this Tuesday before the Foreign Relations Commission of the Chamber of Deputies to explain Brazil’s position regarding the turbulent electoral process. Venezuelan.
He explained that, in its attempts at mediation, Brazil has been guided by the principles of “defense of democracy, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful resolution of disputes.”
However, he stressed that, since the detailed results of the July 28 elections, in which the electoral authorities proclaimed Maduro’s victory, were not published, “the principle of transparency was not respected.”
He emphasized that, for this reason, Brazil “does not recognize” that result nor the victory that the opposition attributes to Edmundo González Urrutia, today exiled in Spain.
Regarding the minutes released by the opposition, he noted that “recognizing different results based on the data collected by a candidate would represent a dangerous precedent for democratic institutions.”
Likewise, Amorim reiterated his concern about “the human rights situation” in Venezuela and about the “new control mechanisms of civil society” established by the Maduro Government after the elections.
According to Amorim, the “main interest” that guides Brazil “is to avoid tensions that threaten peace in South America,” although he clarified that “the solution must be reached by the Venezuelans themselves.”
Bilateral relations have gradually deteriorated after the elections, especially given Brazil’s insistence on publishing detailed minutes of the process.
Together with Colombia and, to a lesser extent with Mexico, Brazil has tried to mediate between the Government and the opposition to try to resolve the crisis, but these attempts have been rejected and disqualified by the Venezuelan ruling party.
In this framework, Amorim said that Brazil remains “open to contributing if there is a willingness on both sides,” with which it tries to “maintain dialogue,” although he acknowledged that “it is not easy.”
Tension with Venezuela worsened last week, when Lula’s government refused to accept Venezuela as a new associate member of the BRICS forum, founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
That position was considered by Venezuela as “an aggression” and “a hostile gesture,” which it framed in “the criminal policy of sanctions that have been imposed against a brave and revolutionary people, like the Venezuelans.”
Although Amorim explained that Brazil will maintain “discretion” and avoid discussing this matter through the press, he considered that the Venezuelan reaction has been “at the very least disproportionate.”
Caracas / EFE
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**Interview with Celso Amorim, Advisor for International Affairs of the Brazilian Government**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Amorim. You recently expressed Brazil’s position on the elections in Venezuela. Could you elaborate on why Brazil does not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s proclaimed victory?
**Celso Amorim:** Thank you for having me. Brazil’s stance derives from a fundamental respect for democratic principles. We believe that the principle of transparency was not upheld during the recent elections. The electoral authorities did not publish detailed results, which raises significant concerns about the legitimacy of the process.
**Interviewer:** What specific impact do you believe this lack of transparency has on democracy in Venezuela?
**Celso Amorim:** A democratic election hinges on the public’s trust in the process and its outcomes. When transparency is compromised, it erodes that trust and can lead to further conflict. Brazil has always maintained that the defense of democracy is crucial, and any perceived manipulation—or lack of openness—undermines that foundation.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that recognizing results based on opposition data could set a dangerous precedent. Could you explain that further?
**Celso Amorim:** Absolutely. If we start to acknowledge electoral results derived solely from one candidate’s data without proper validation, it could lead to chaos. It establishes a scenario where any party could claim victory based on unverified information, which ultimately weakens our democratic institutions and could destabilize the entire electoral framework.
**Interviewer:** How is Brazil approaching the situation in Venezuela particularly regarding human rights concerns?
**Celso Amorim:** Brazil approaches this situation with care. Our guiding principles are defense of democracy, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. That said, we are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Venezuela. We believe that addressing human rights violations is indispensable to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Amorim, for sharing your insights on this pressing issue.
**Celso Amorim:** Thank you for having me. It is vital that we continue to engage in constructive dialogue regarding democracy and human rights in our neighboring countries.
