Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, stressed that “the last elections in Venezuela were not free. “There are no free elections under blockades.” He hopes that elections can soon be held “without blockades or internal intimidation.” According to Blu Radio, the ambassador Milton Rengifo will attend the inauguration on January 10.
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced this Wednesday, January 8, that he will not attend the inauguration of his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, on January 10.
The president questioned through his social networksthe recent arbitrary arrests in Venezuela.
«Like our friend Enrique Márquez, a prominent Venezuelan progressive, Carlos Correa, a prominent human rights defender in Venezuela, has been arrested. This, and other facts, prevents my personal attendance at the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro,” he stated.
Likewise, Petro recalled that Colombia’s request was not attended to in the sense of maximum transparency in the presidential elections of July 28, “when such a possibility was exposed in various political meeting spaces to which we were invited. In Europe, in Venezuela and in the United States.
In that sense, the president expressed: «The last elections in Venezuela were not free. “There are no free elections under blockades.”
“We cannot recognize elections that were not free and we hope that these can be held soon without blockages or internal intimidation,” he stated.
Gustavo Petro also stated that, despite its position, Colombia will not break diplomatic relations with Venezuela nor will it intervene in internal affairs, unless requested.
«The progressive forces of Colombia will maintain their relationship of collaboration and friendship with all the progressive forces of Venezuela in pursuit of a great political and social dialogue that brings peace to the entire region and prevents violence. The freedom of the people is the objective of any progressivism,” he indicated.
In addition, he requested the release of all political prisoners.
Like our friend Enrique Márquez, a prominent Venezuelan progressive, Carlos Correa, a prominent human rights defender in Venezuela, has been arrested. This, and other facts, prevents my personal attendance at the inauguration ceremony of Nicolás Maduro.
Colombia’s request does not… https://t.co/adAA51R8VL
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) January 8, 2025
The president also indicated that Bolívar’s fight was always for a democratic and sovereign region. “I think it is the opposite of what is proposed from those core areas of North American politics.”
According to Blu RadioandThe Colombian ambassador to Venezuela, Milton Rengifo, will attend the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro on January 10. This by order of President Petro and Chancellor Luis Gilberto Murillo. The official was at the Foreign Ministry yesterday, meeting with Vice Chancellor Jorge Rojas, and will travel to Caracas today.
In December, the Vice Chancellor Jorge Rojas He said that Bogotá was going to send ambassador Rengifo.
He December 29the Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luis Gilberto Murillo, was emphatic in stating that the recognition of the electoral results of last July 28 depends on the publication of minutes by the electoral authority.
*Read also: Foreign Minister of Colombia: Sending the ambassador on January 10 does not imply recognizing results
In an interview granted to Cambio magazine, Murillo indicated that the decision to send the ambassador would not imply recognition of the results, but rather responds to fundamental diplomatic principles, such as respect between States and the need to maintain open communication channels.
Murillo was always of the opinion of not sending representation to the inauguration nor for Petro to be present, although he clarified that this decision corresponded to the Colombian president himself.
Along with Brazil, Colombia requested on several occasions the publication of the disaggregated data of the elections to recognize Nicolás Maduro as president for the next period at the head of Venezuela. However, the Venezuelan authorities did not take this request into account; instead, the election minutes were taken to the TSJ for their alleged evaluation. Subsequently, from there the announcement of the Electoral Power was ratified.
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