After several days, President Gustavo Petro finally spoke out regarding the election results in Venezuela. The Colombian president had chosen to remain silent following the declaration of Nicolás Maduro as president of the neighboring country.
(Read more: Maduro blames Edmundo González for deaths in protests after election results)
Through his X account, the head of state shared a message in which he recognizes that there are “serious doubts” around the Venezuelan electoral processwhich can lead “to a deep violent polarization with serious consequences of permanent division of a nation that has known how to unite many times in its history.”
In his statement, President Petro invited the Venezuelan government to allow the elections to end in peace. “allowing for transparent scrutiny with vote counting, minutes and with oversight by all political forces in the country and professional international oversight.”
The president also made a call regarding the escalation of violence that is taking place these days in that country. A situation that has so far left 12 dead and more than 700 people arrested for the protests.
“While this process is taking place, peace can reach the opposing citizen forces and stop the violence that leads to death until the counting of votes is over and the elections are officially concluded. We respectfully propose reaching an agreement between the government and the opposition that allows maximum respect for the force that has lost the elections.”he stressed in his message.
(Read more: Panama temporarily suspends flights with Venezuela following crisis over elections)
Protests in Venezuela
EFE
Along the same lines, he asked the United States government to suspend the blockades and decisions against Venezuelan citizens. “The blockade is an inhuman measure that only brings more hunger and more violence than there already is and promotes the mass exodus of people. Emigration to the US from Latin America will decrease substantially if the blockades are lifted. Free peoples know how to make their own decisions.”he indicated.
In his statement he also addressed his counterpart Nicolás Maduro and reminded him of the great responsibility that weighs on his shoulders. In this regard, he asked him to remember the spirit of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in order to “allow the Venezuelan people to return to tranquility while the elections are completed in peace and the transparent result is accepted, whatever it may be.”
The serious doubts surrounding the Venezuelan electoral process could lead its people to a deep, violent polarization with serious consequences of permanent division of a nation that has known how to unite many times in its history.
I invite the government…— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) July 31, 2024
The Colombian president concluded by pointing out that “The vote count is the end of every electoral process. It must be transparent and ensure peace and democracy. My best wishes for peace and democracy in Venezuela.”
It is worth remembering that since July 28, independent and opposition sectors have been insisting on the need for the head of state to break the silence on the elections in the neighboring country. In these, the National Electoral Council of Venezuela declared Nicolás Maduro (current president) the winner with 5,150,092 votes, while his rival, Edmundo González, got 4,445,978.
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