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Agence France-Presse

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday he had been “scared” by Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro’s warning of a “bloodbath” if he loses elections on Sunday.
“I was scared by Maduro’s statements that if he loses the election there will be a bloodbath,” Lula told international news agencies in Brasilia, as the Venezuelan leader prepares to seek a third six-year term amid accusations of foul play and opposition persecution.
“Maduro has to learn: if you win, you stay [in power]. If you lose, you go. And you prepare to contest another election,” said the leftist icon, back in office since last year after serving two previous terms until 2010.
“I hope that is what happens, for the sake of Venezuela and for the sake of South America,” he added.

On Saturday, Maduro had warned the vote’s outcome would decide the future of the economically devastated country: “whether it becomes a peaceful Venezuela or a convulsed, violent and conflict-ridden Venezuela. Peace or war.”
And days earlier, he said Venezuela risks a “bloodbath” if he loses.
“Venezuela’s fate in the 21st century depends on our victory on July 28. If they do not want Venezuela to become a bloodbath, a fratricidal civil war produced by the fascists, let us guarantee the greatest success, the greatest electoral victory of our people,” he said at a campaign event in Caracas.
Institutions loyal to 61-year-old Maduro – in office since 2013 – have barred wildly popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from the race on what she and others dismiss as trumped-up corruption charges.
Others, too, were disqualified or have pulled out, and the opposition Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) picked 74-year-old Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a little-known ex-diplomat, as a last-minute figurehead candidate.
Gonzalez Urrutia is far ahead in polls, but observers fear Maduro will never allow him to win.


Lula had cultivated close ties with Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, Hugo Chavez.
But relations between the neighbours were severed under Lula’s far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula’s decision to restore relations with Maduro’s socialist government – accused of human rights violations and trampling on democracy – has drawn criticism from opponents.
Lula said on Monday he had spoken to Maduro twice, and “he knows that the only way for Venezuela to return to normality is for there to be an electoral process respected by all”.

Last month, Lula criticised obstacles placed in the way of the opposition by Venezuela’s electoral authority, loyal to the regime, and called for more international vote observers after Caracas withdraw an invitation to monitors from the European Union.
He also called for the lifting of international sanctions against the Caribbean nation.
Lula said on Monday his government would send two members of Brazil’s electoral court and his own foreign affairs adviser Celso Amorim to observe Sunday’s balloting.
Last week, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay and Uruguay urged Caracas to cease the “harassment, persecution and repression” of opponents and “the release of all political prisoners”.


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Americas and the Caribbean

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Planalto palace in Brasilia, Brazil on Monday. Photo: Reuters 

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro during a campaign rally in San Fernando, Apure State, Venezuela on Sunday. Photo: Miraflores Palace / Handout via Reuters

Late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2006. Photo: AP 

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says his administration is preparing a proposal to join the China-centred trade and infrastructure scheme. Photo: Reuters

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (right) speaks as Vice-President and Minister of Industry and Trade Geraldo Alckmin looks on at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on May 13, 2024. Photo: AFP

Peru’s convict ex-president Alberto Fujimori, 85, aims to run again

Former Peru president Alberto Fujimori sits between his children Kenji and Keiko upon his release from prison in Lima, Peru on December 6. Photo: AFP

Supporters of Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori and his daughter Keiko in Lima, Peru on Monday. Photo: AP

Brazilian police indict Jair Bolsonaro in undeclared Saudi diamonds case

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro addresses supporters during a rally in Sao Paulo in February. Photo: AP

Luxury items included as part of an investigation into gifts received by ex-president Jair Bolsonaro were seized by customs authorities at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in March 2023. Photo: Brazil’s Federal Revenue Department via AP

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro announces candidacy for July re-election

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters during a rally in Caracas in January. Photo: AFP

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado (centre) addresses supporters during a rally in Guacara, Carabobo State, Venezuela on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

US reimposes Venezuela oil sanctions over election concerns

President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro. Photo: Reuters

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Brazil’s President said: ‘I was scared by Maduro’s statements that if he loses the election there will be a bloodbath’


Brazil’s President said: ‘I was scared by Maduro’s statements that if he loses the election there will be a bloodbath.’
