Colombia's far-left President Gustavo Petro claimed on Tuesday that Venezuela's rigged presidential election on July 28 was a “mistake” due to socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro's “black reaction” to the dubious results.
Petro also placed some of the blame for the fraudulent elections on the United States, claiming that the socialist regime's alleged “blockade” somehow led to the fake elections.
WATCH — President Maduro's billboard goes up in flames amid Venezuelan election protests:
leftist president of colombia spoke Brazilian newspaper and Oh Globo It took place on Tuesday this week in Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the annual G20 summit hosted by radical leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Although Colombia is not a G20 member, Lula invited The same leftist president will be attending the summit as a guest.
Petro discussed Venezuela on July 28th.election”, dictator Nicolas Maduro declared “victory” without disclosing the actual number of voters.
The socialist government refused to release voter data supporting its claimed victory, leading to widespread condemnation from the international community. Venezuela's opposition disputed the results, releasing a tally of voters on election day and claiming that Venezuela's opposition forces had certified the results. now exiled Candidate Emundo González defeated Maduro in a landslide.
Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González waves to supporters at Puerta del Sol in downtown Madrid, Spain, on September 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Almangue)
In the months after the election, Mr. Petro and Mr. Lula pressed Mr. Maduro to release evidence of his claimed “victory.” Colombia's far-left president says he now believes the election was a “mistake” after Maduro refused to release evidence, but also blames the US for the socialist regime's alleged “blockade” said.
“I think it's an election. [in Venezuela] Looking at it today, it was a mistake. I supported holding the event, but if it is locked down, there will be no free vote. [by the United States]'' Petro said.
“Just as the election has been criticized in terms of questionable conduct by the Venezuelan government, it was not clear that they had won the election, but it was questionable because they did not show the minutes,” he said. said. continued. “Equally, and perhaps more dubiously, a country is forced to hold an election when a rifle is pointed at its head with an economic blockade.”
Petro, Colombia's first leftist president and a former member of the Marxist guerrilla M19, led Colombia to restore A few days after taking office in August 2022, he will enter into relations with his socialist neighbor.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses supporters during a rally calling for reforms in Bolívar Square in Bogotá, Colombia, on September 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
According to Against Petro, the authoritarian Maduro regime has been accused of human rights sanctions imposed by the United States during President Donald Trump's first administration in response to an extensive list of ongoing human rights abuses by the Petro regime. He said he was a victim of an alleged “blockade.” Controlling Venezuelan socialists over their own people.
“They are saying that if I don't vote for the candidate I want, I will starve. That's not what free elections are about. Let's achieve a difficult goal today,” Petro said.
“There are no guarantees if someone who votes for the opposition is arrested the next day with the threat of imprisonment. But there must also be guarantees of a free vote for those who want to vote for the factions that support the government.” he continued. “And this freedom means there is no blockade in their countries.”
Petro told a Brazilian newspaper that “the lifting of the blockade” and full guarantees for those wishing to take part in “free elections” must be achieved in the medium term, but added: “We believe that something will happen. We have to wait a little while,” he added. It happened. ”
In fact, US President Joe Biden is retiring. Award President Maduro offers six months of generous oil and gas sanctions relief after the socialist government and representatives of Venezuela's opposition signed an agreement that includes a vague promise to hold “free and fair” elections in 2024. proposed a plan.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (not pictured) holds a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (Ton Molina/Bloomberg via Getty)
The Biden administration's gifts to the socialist dictator failed to entice President Maduro to hold free elections in Venezuela. President Maduro instead staged a farce in late July.
Petro, along with Lula and former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, have been involved in “mediation” with Maduro in the hope that Maduro will release evidence of the dictator's claimed electoral “victory.” ” The actions of the three leftist presidents have yielded no meaningful results, except for a handful of accomplishments. statement.
president of colombia reportedly He said it was “no longer possible” for a coalition like the one with Lula and López Obrador to pressure Maduro to announce the results.
“While demands for fundamental regime change are unrealistic at the moment, there will come a time when Venezuela will know, a time will come when the people will know, that we agree among ourselves to remove the agents from our country. “I believe that it's coming from a world power that's more interested in oil than anything else, and it's harmful to society,” Petro said.
“From this point of view, I think the Colombian side has to insist on a political solution, which means lifting the blockade and giving free elections to everyone who takes part,” he continued. Ta.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Murillo claimed In late October, the country announced that the country would not recognize President Maduro's victory unless voter data was submitted by January 10, 2025, when his current status would be known. illegal — Six-year term ends.
Celso Amorim, President Lula's top foreign policy advisor, said: claimed to Oh Globo In October, Maduro privately promised to present voter data to support his claim of victory, but he never did.
Amorim said Maduro's refusal represented a “betrayal” that would ultimately lead to Brazil. laugh through your nose The group's latest annual gathering, hosted by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin in the city of Kazan last month, ousted the Venezuelan regime from a coveted spot in the BRICS anti-American bloc.
The Maduro government issued the following statement in response to Brazil's actions and Colombian Foreign Minister Murillo's remarks at the BRICS summit. threat Against fellow left-wing neighbors. maduro government officials accused Mr Lula allegedly “faked” a head injury hours before he was scheduled to attend the BRICS summit as part of an elaborate plot to prevent Venezuela from participating.
Mexico is currently under the leftist government of López Obrador's successor, Claudia Sheinbaum. said He announced that he would maintain an “impartial” position towards Venezuela.
a report Published by Brazilian leftist newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo In October, Brazil's government claimed it had effectively “thrown in the towel” over President Maduro's election fraud. Lula is not expected to attend President Maduro's inauguration on January 10, 2025, as Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has entered “damage control mode” regarding Venezuela, according to reports.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
