Borrell considers the region’s mediation efforts in Venezuela to be “key”

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs, Josep Borrell, considered the region’s efforts to mediate in the Venezuelan political crisis to be “key” and called for an end to the repression against civil society.

“I am following the situation in Venezuela in contact with the UN Secretary General (António Guterres), Latin American countries and the opposition,” Borrell said in a message on the social network X, adding that “the efforts of the region and the mediation led by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are key.”

“I reiterate the need for transparency and independent verification of the results. The disclosure of the results is the responsibility of the National Electoral Council (CNE),” he said.

The head of EU diplomacy recalled that the EU “condemns the repression against the opposition and civil society in Venezuela.”

“The Maduro government must guarantee respect for human rights, put an end to arbitrary detentions and immediately release political prisoners,” he concluded.

Maduro said Friday that he plans to hold talks with the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador; and Colombia, Gustavo Petro, to address the crisis unleashed after the July 28 elections.

The result of the elections – which confirmed the victory of the Chavista leader – is considered fraudulent by the majority opposition, foreign governments and international observers such as the Carter Center, which participated as an observer invited by the Venezuelan authorities.