The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, reiterated on Thursday the importance of Venezuelan authorities revealing the minutes from the elections held on July 28 and proposed two potential solutions to the Venezuelan crisis: the establishment of a coalition government or the organization of new elections.
Lula discussed the Venezuelan elections during a radio interview, stating that the election results have not been made public, leaving the winner unconfirmed and unverified. He mentioned that he is collaborating with Mexico and Colombia to explore solutions, advocating for a coalition government that integrates both supporters of Chavismo and the opposition, or the call for new elections. “(Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro has six months left in office. If he has common sense, he could even convene new elections, forming an electoral committee with opposition members and international observers,” he suggested.
The progressive leader also indicated that Nicolás Maduro understands he owes a public explanation to everyone and noted that his relationship with Maduro, which was good in the past, has deteriorated due to the current political climate in Venezuela.
Maduro distances himself
On Thursday, Maduro distanced himself from the proposal put forth by his Brazilian and Colombian counterparts to re-run the elections that secured him a third term amidst claims of fraud from the opposition. Without directly addressing the matter, Maduro insisted that “Venezuela has sovereignty” and “is an independent country.”
“I do not engage in microphone diplomacy; I never do,” the president told the official press. “If so, one becomes an advisor to other countries.”
The opposition’s dismissal
The leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Maria Corina Machado, rejected the proposal and maintained that the results declaring Nicolás Maduro the winner were fraudulent. “The elections took place, and the Venezuelan society expressed itself under very adverse conditions, where fraud was present, yet we managed to win,” Machado stated during a virtual press conference with media from Argentina and Chile.
“We must respect the voice of the people and uphold sovereignty,” Machado emphasized, then asked: “Would you agree to hold another election in your respective countries?” “If this decision is to be made at a table, why was it made in the first place?” she added, noting that elections should be decided by votes, not by agreements among the elite.
Biden’s mixed messages
Lula’s comments quickly prompted reactions from other leaders across the continent. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his support for new elections in Venezuela but offered no further details to the press before boarding the presidential helicopter, Marine One. When questioned by a journalist about whether he supported calls for new elections in Venezuela, he simply responded: “Yes, I do,” without elaborating.
However, hours later, a White House spokesperson indicated that Biden had misinterpreted the question, leading to confusion after he implied support for a repeat election.
The spokesperson clarified that the president was actually commenting on the “absurdity” of Nicolás Maduro’s failure to release the voting records from the July 28 elections, during which the government declared Maduro’s reelection with results that were questioned both domestically and internationally.
The spokesperson reiterated that Washington believes opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia won the elections, according to minutes obtained by the main opposition bloc, and once again called for respect for the “will” of the Venezuelan people to facilitate a “return to democratic norms.”
Petro’s input
Meanwhile, Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed a similar idea for Venezuela as Lula: a national front akin to Colombia’s 20th-century model, where liberals and conservatives alternated in power as a transitional step to resolve the crisis faced by the neighboring country following the elections.
“The experience of the Colombian National Front can provide a temporary framework that may lead to a final solution,” Petro stated in a post on his X social media account. “A political solution for Venezuela that ensures peace and prosperity for its people depends on Nicolás Maduro,” he added.
The National Front was a political agreement between the Liberal and Conservative parties active from 1958 to 1974, which helped oust General Gustavo Rojas, who sought to maintain power indefinitely.
Petro and Lula held a phone conversation on Wednesday to discuss mediation in the ongoing crisis in Venezuela following the July 28 elections. While the details of their conversation were kept confidential, a source close to the Colombian government indicated they may have talked about a proposal they are now advocating independently.
López Obrador’s stance
In contrast, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that he does not believe it is appropriate to call for new elections at this time as a solution to the Venezuelan crisis. “We will see what the court decides… I don’t think it would be prudent for us, as a foreign government, to offer an opinion on something that Venezuelans need to resolve,” he remarked during his daily press conference.
López Obrador mentioned that he has not discussed the new proposals with Brazil’s president, beyond the dialogue held on August 1 with Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro regarding the issue. He reaffirmed that Mexico’s position is to wait for the electoral court’s decision. “We will await the electoral authorities of that country to decide; we will proceed with caution,” he insisted.
Although he has not yet acknowledged Maduro’s victory, the president criticized the recognition of González Urrutia’s win by various governments and international organizations, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “There are principles, and we desire good relations with all peoples, which is not solely about governments but about peoples, and we must act with caution. We will see what they resolve in the electoral context, but at the start of this matter, a very biased attitude was evident,” he stated.
Nonetheless, López Obrador denied supporting either side, reaffirming Mexico’s constitutional prohibition against interfering in the affairs of other nations. “We are not in favor of either side; what we request is for the results to be made public and for the competent authority of the country where the elections occurred to decide if there is any disagreement.” “Our only request is for matters to be resolved peacefully, without violence,” he emphasized.
The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, reiterated this Thursday the need for the Venezuelan authorities to disclose the minutes of the elections held on July 28. Lula suggested two potential solutions to the Venezuelan crisis: the formation of a coalition government or the organization of new elections.
Lula addressed the Venezuelan elections during a radio interview, emphasizing that the results remain undisclosed, leaving uncertainty about who actually won the elections. He noted that independent verification of the results is impossible under the current circumstances. Lula affirmed his efforts, working with Mexico and Colombia, to explore solutions, proposing a coalition government comprising members of Chavismo and the opposition, or the calling of new elections. “(Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro has six months left in office. If he has common sense, he could even call new elections, creating an electoral committee with opposition members and observers from around the world.” Lula proposed.
The progressive leader also indicated that Nicolás Maduro knows he owes the populace an explanation regarding the elections. He acknowledged that his previously strong relationship with Maduro has deteriorated due to the ongoing political issues in Venezuela.
Maduro Takes Distance
In response, Maduro distanced himself from the earlier proposal made by his Brazilian and Colombian counterparts to repeat the elections that granted him a third term amidst allegations of fraud. Without directly addressing the matter, Maduro asserted that “Venezuela has sovereignty” and emphasized the country’s “independence.”
“I don’t practice microphone diplomacy; I never do it,” the president stated to his official press team. “If not, one then becomes an advisor to other countries.”
The Opposition’s Rejection
Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, firmly rejected the proposal, insisting that the results declaring Nicolás Maduro the victor of the presidential election are fraudulent. “The elections took place and Venezuelan society expressed itself in very adverse conditions, where there was fraud, and yet we still managed to win,” Machado stated during a virtual press conference attended by media from Argentina and Chile.
“We must respect the voice of the people, we must respect sovereignty,” Machado emphasized, questioning: “Would you agree to hold another election in your respective countries?” She further noted, “If this is a decision that is going to be made at a table, why did they make it in the first place?” advocating that elections are determined by votes, not negotiations among elites.
Biden’s Back and Forth
Lula’s statements elicited immediate reactions from various leaders across the continent. The president of the United States, Joe Biden, expressed his support for calling new elections in Venezuela but did not elaborate before boarding the presidential helicopter Marine One. When questioned by a journalist about his stance on new elections, he replied: “Yes, I do,” without further clarification.
However, hours later, a White House spokesman suggested that Biden had misinterpreted the question, causing confusion regarding his apparent support for a repeat election. The spokesman clarified that the president was actually highlighting the “absurdity” of Maduro’s failure to release the voting records from the July 28 elections, where his reelection results were widely disputed.
The White House restated its belief that opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia won the elections, according to minutes obtained by the majority opposition bloc, reiterating the call for respect towards the “will” of the Venezuelan people and a transition back to democratic norms.
Petro’s Proposal
Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, echoed Lula’s sentiment, suggesting a similar idea for Venezuela, proposing a national front akin to the one in Colombia during the 20th century. This would involve liberals and conservatives taking turns in power as a transitional measure to resolve the ongoing crisis following the elections.
“The experience of the Colombian National Front is an experience that, if used temporarily, can help achieve a definitive solution,” Petro articulated in a post on social media platform X. He emphasized that “a political solution for Venezuela that brings peace and prosperity to its people depends on Nicolás Maduro.”
Petro and Lula held a confidential conversation on Wednesday to mediate the crisis erupting in Venezuela after the elections on July 28. Although the specifics of their dialogue are not public, it is presumed they discussed the proposals now voiced individually.
López Obrador’s Position
In contrast, the Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed reservations about calling for new elections as a solution to the Venezuelan crisis. “We will see what the court decides… I don’t think it would be prudent for us from outside, a foreign government, to give an opinion on something that is up to the Venezuelans to resolve,” he stated at a daily press conference.
López Obrador clarified that he did not discuss Lula’s new suggestions with the Brazilian leader, beyond a conversation had on August 1 with Colombian president Gustavo Petro. He reiterated Mexico’s position is to await the electoral court’s decision, stating: “We will act with caution.”
Despite not recognizing Maduro’s victory, López Obrador critiqued the actions of organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who have acknowledged González Urrutia’s triumph. He remarked: “There are principles… it is not just a matter of governments, it is a matter of peoples, and with prudence.”
He reaffirmed Mexico’s stance of not favoring either side, emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolutions and allowing local competent authorities to handle electoral grievances: “The only thing we ask is that everything be resolved peacefully, that there be no violence,” he stressed.
Potential Impacts on Venezuelan Politics
The proposals and dialogue surrounding the Venezuelan crisis highlight the intricate balance of regional politics in South America. With leaders like Lula and Petro advocating for democracy and participation, contrasting sharply with Maduro’s defiance and López Obrador’s cautious neutrality, the situation remains fluid.
Possible Outcomes of Proposed Solutions
- Coalition Government: Could bring legitimacy to governance, allowing various political factions to collaborate and stabilize the country.
- New Elections: If managed transparently with international observers, it could potentially reinvigorate democracy and restore public faith in the electoral process.
Case Studies: Regional Elections
| Country | Year | Outcome | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 2018 | Controversial election | Relatively peaceful transition of power |
| Chile | 2021 | New constitutional convention | Revitalization of democratic principles |
