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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado rejected a proposal from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that Venezuela hold a new presidential election following the contested results of last month’s vote. Her comments came shortly after President da Silva said he still doesn’t recognize Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the election.
President da Silva suggested that Maduro could call for a new election "if he has good sense," and that Maduro still owes an explanation to Brazilians and the rest of the world. Machado argued that redoing the election would be an "insult" to the people and questioned whether there would be a need for multiple new elections.
A joint statement by Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico called on Venezuela’s electoral body to release tens of thousands of vote tally sheets, which would be considered proof of the election’s results.
Meanwhile, Celso Amorim, President da Silva’s closest international adviser and former foreign relations minister, spoke to a Senate committee on Thursday and said that a new election would need to be verified in a solid and robust manner.
A new election could be a risky gamble for Maduro and his allies, as July’s vote and subsequent protests showed they have lost support across the country.
Brazil is one of Venezuela’s longest land border neighbours and has been a significant mediator in regional affairs.
Under President da Silva’s government, Brazil was an important mediator in Venezuela’s affairs, including the Barbados Agreement reached in October.
According to reports, a review of tally sheets collected by the opposition has found that González won the election significantly more votes than reported by the government, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of Maduro’s victory.
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Conclusion:
While a new election might be a desirable outcome, the complex logistics and potentially contentious politics could make it challenging. The dispute surrounding the election outcome is just one of many obstacles facing Venezuela as the country continues to face economic and humanitarian crises.
FAQs:
- Can the Brazilian government interfere in Venezuelan internal affairs?
In this context, it seems more like the Brazilian government is recommending a peaceful and diplomatic solution to address the contested election results, but it ultimately falls to the Venezuelan authorities to decide whether to call for new elections. - Why should Maduro compromise on new elections?
By giving in to calls for new elections, Maduro might be seen as demonstrating goodwill and a willingness to compromise, potentially improving the prospects for a peaceful transition of power or at the very least de-escalating tensions.