The president detailed in his X account the reasons that prevent him from attending the investiture ceremony of the Chavista leader.
News Colombia.
The uncertainty surrounding President Gustavo Petro’s decision on whether or not he would attend the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro for his third term as president of Venezuela was resolved in the last hours.
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Although he had initially raised doubts, the president broke the silence and announced that he will not be present at Maduro’s inauguration ceremony, which will take place in Caracas.
The controversy over his attendance broke out after, in December 2024, the Colombian House of Representatives sent a proposal asking President Petro not to attend the event, given the growing tensions with the Venezuelan regime.
In a speech in Barranquilla, the president had said: «Now they tell me not to go to Venezuela. I’ll see if I go or not,” revealing the uncertainty about his presence.
President Petro confirmed that he will not attend Maduro’s inauguration in Venezuela
Finally, through his account on X, President Petro confirmed that he will not travel to Caracas. In his message, the president explained that his decision is due to several factors, including the arrest of prominent Venezuelan activists, such as Carlos Correa, a human rights defender, and concerns about the electoral process in Venezuela.
“This, and other facts, prevents my personal attendance at the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro,” he wrote, also referring to the lack of transparency in the July 2024 presidential elections.
In this sense, the Colombian president highlighted that Colombia’s request to guarantee free and transparent elections in Venezuela was not met, despite the fact that the request was raised in various international meetings.
Although the president will not attend the event, he made it clear that Colombia will not break diplomatic relations with Venezuela, since a border closure would affect millions of people from both countries.
In his message, he also called on the Venezuelan authorities to respect the human rights of all citizens.
Despite Petro’s decision, Colombia’s ambassador to Venezuela, Milton Rengifo, will attend Maduro’s inauguration.
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
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