President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both suggested the idea of a new election in Venezuela as a potential solution for the political crisis in the country. Despite this, both the ruling party and the opposition in Venezuela claim victory in the July 28 contest. The U.S. has rejected Maduro’s victory claim and imposed oil sanctions on Venezuela in April for failure to comply with electoral conditions.
The international community, including the U.S. and other Western countries, has condemned what they view as voting fraud in Venezuela but has not taken swift, tough action beyond sanctions. Lula suggested a “coalition government” as another possible solution, but opposition leader Maria Corina Machado ruled out the idea of new elections, stating that Maduro must be made to understand the cost of his continued rule.
Lula and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have been working to find a political solution to the crisis in Venezuela. Petro suggested a temporary power-sharing arrangement between the ruling party and the opposition. Petro also called for the lifting of all sanctions on Venezuela and emphasized that a political deal is the best option for the country, depending on the will of the Venezuelan people.
Brazil has not formally proposed a new election in Venezuela, but has been criticized by conservative senators for its soft stance on Maduro. Brazil offered to pick up six opposition members seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy, now under a Brazilian flag, after Venezuela broke ties with Argentina. Lula and Petro’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis may be discussed by Latin American leaders at a meeting in the Dominican Republic this weekend.
The Venezuelan electoral authority declared Maduro the winner of the election with 51% of the vote, but has not released full vote tallies. The opposition, however, has posted their tallies on a public website, showing a different outcome with their candidate receiving 67% of the vote. The situation remains tense in Venezuela as international pressure mounts on Maduro to address the allegations of voting fraud and seek a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in the country.
