Lula speaks out about the elections in Venezuela: “I want results”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) declared this Thursday (15) that “does not want to behave in a passionate or rash manner” about the elections in Venezuela and highlights that Nicolás Maduro owes an explanation to Brazil and the world. Lula says that “still doesn’t recognize” Maduro's victory in the elections. The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela proclaimed on July 29 the victory of Nicolás Maduro for the presidency of the country. The Brazilian president confesses that the relationship with Venezuela “it deteriorated”.

In an interview given to “Rádio T FM”, Lula also says that it is not favorable for a president of the Republic to give his opinion on the policy of a president of another country and adds: “I have maintained relations with Venezuela since I took office in 2002, I had a close relationship with (Hugo) Chavez (…). And this relationship has deteriorated because the political situation there is deteriorating in Venezuela.”

President Lula also reported that he spoke with Nicolás Maduro before the elections. In this conversation, Lula told Maduro that “Transparency and legitimacy of the result is what would allow us to continue fighting for the suspension of sanctions against Venezuela.” Asked if he recognizes Maduro as president-elect, he declared that “not yet” and completes by saying that Maduro “He knows that he owes an explanation to Brazilian society and to the world.”

In the interview with T FM radio, the president of the republic reported that he had been in a meeting with the presidents of Colombia and Mexico to try to find a solution. In the interview, Lula emphasized that the data needed to be presented and that it needed to be presented by a reliable media outlet. According to the head of state, the National Electoral Council would be ideal, but the fact that there are opposition members on the council indicates that the body will be impartial. “To form a coalition government, you call on the opposition. Many people who are in my government did not vote for me and I brought everyone to participate in the government (…)”, suggested Lula. “I don't want to behave in a passionate and hasty way, I want results”, completed.

Proposal to redo the elections

Still during the interview, the president says if Maduro has common sense“he could make an appeal to the people of Venezuela, perhaps even call for new elections, establish a criterion for the participation of allthes the candidates, create a supra-partisan electoral committee, in which everyone participates, and let scouts from all over the world come in to watch the elections.”

_{Full interview with President Lula given to T FM radio (Video: reproduction/Lula/YouTube)}

After Lula's statement, opposition leader María Corina Machado rejected the proposal to hold new elections and when questioned, she called the proposal “lack of respect” with the Venezuelans.

Election of Nicolas Maduro

With 51.2% of the votes, Nicolas Maduro was reelected president of Venezuela on July 29. The reelection had repercussions, with support from allied countries such as Cuba and Bolivia, but on the other side, nations such as the United States, the European Union and Latin American countries demanded fairness in the electoral process.

Featured photo: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace. (Reproduction: Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/Agência Brasil)