Brazil and Colombia – but not US – favour fresh Venezuela elections
- Biden initially signalled support for such a move but the White House walked back his comment hours later
The presidents of Brazil and Colombia called Thursday for fresh elections in Venezuela after international condemnation of last month’s vote that the opposition says was stolen by strongman Nicolas Maduro.
From Washington, US President Joe Biden signalled he was also calling for a new vote, but hours later the White House walked back his comment.
The two South American leaders, who spoke on the phone on Wednesday to discuss a possible “political exit” from Venezuela’s post-election crisis, independently urged Maduro to consider a new election.
But Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said it would show “a lack of respect” for the popular will already expressed on July 28.
If Maduro “is sensible”, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said, “he could try to appeal to the people of Venezuela, perhaps even organise elections”. Lula told a Brazilian radio station there should be “criteria for participation of all candidates” in a new election, which should “allow observers from all over the world”.
For his part, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on X for the lifting of all sanctions against Caracas, a “general national and international amnesty”, “new, free elections” and a “transitional cohabitation government”.
