Lula da Silva and Petro's unusual criticism of the Venezuelan presidential election controversy
Several countries have condemned what happened with the removal of two opposition leaders. But this time, the governments of Colombia and Brazil are in the spotlight.
Prominent South American politicians, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian Head of State Gustavo Petro, have taken an unusual stance against the Venezuelan government, and are threatening opposition candidate Colina Yoris in the upcoming presidential election. criticized for refusing permission to register. .
Lula emphasized the seriousness of the situation, saying, “There is no legal or political explanation that prohibits an opponent from becoming a candidate.''
Mr. Petro echoed that opinion and emphasized the importance of democracy, saying, “There is no such thing as a despicable leftist. There is a possibility to change the world through deepening democracy.''
The controversy stems from opposition leader María Colina Machado's choice to exclude Yoris from the presidential election, prompting concerns and condemnation from international allies who had previously supported President Nicolás Maduro's government. is causing.
Yoris accused him of failing to register on the National Electoral Council's digital system and being excluded from contesting the Miraflores Palace, the seat of the Venezuelan government, when the deadline expired. “My rights are being violated,” she protested.
Several countries have condemned what happened with the removal of two opposition leaders. However, this time, attention has been drawn to the fact that the governments of Colombia and Brazil, ruled by leftist leaders who have maintained good relations with President Maduro, have joined the chorus of criticism.
President Maduro responded to both by mentioning an assassination attempt he claimed to have experienced this week, but at a rally with his supporters in Caracas, Maduro told Machado Several members of the party declared themselves detained while preparing the statement. An attempt on his life.
“They are after me for my life” and “The despicable leftists cannot condemn the coup (sic), their attempt to oppose revolution and peace. They are collusive. “It’s silent,” he said.
Lula and Petro's criticism marks a significant departure from previous support for Maduro's government and signals a shift in the region's political landscape.
Both neighboring countries agreed that Mr. Yoris's removal and subsequent arrests of rebels highlight continued tensions over Venezuela's presidential election and the erosion of democratic norms at home.
In a communiqué released last Tuesday, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the “difficulties faced by the majority opposition party” in nominating candidates, after Mr. Yoris accused it of being impossible to register his candidacy. expressed “concerns”. .
Bogota expresses the need for a “free, fair and competitive presidential election process” and urges the government and opposition to respect the agreement reached between the two parties in Barbados to promote political normalization in Venezuela I asked. Colombia served as an observer during the negotiations of this agreement. .
Mr. Lula, who appeared jointly with French President Emmanuel Macron from Brasilia, declared that there had been no official explanation as to why Mr. Yoris was unable to register as a candidate.
Lula described the fact that Joris was unable to register as “serious.” “There is no legal or political explanation that prohibits an opponent from becoming a candidate,” Lula said.
The Brazilian government, like the Colombian government, expressed “concerns” about Joris' removal and called for implementation of the Barbados agreement.
