Presidents call for transparent elections in Venezuela

Lula government

Lula, Macron, Fernández and Petro call for dialogue between the opposition and the government

In a joint statement, the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and France asked the Venezuelan government and opposition representatives in the country to resume dialogue and ensure the organization of free and transparent elections in the country.

The document was published this Tuesday (18), one day after the meeting, in Brussels, with the participation of Presidents Emmanuel Macron (France), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Gustavo Petro (Colombia) and Alberto Fernández (Argentina). ), as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. They met at the same table with the vice president of Venezuela and the chief negotiator of the Venezuelan opposition’s Unitary Platform, Gerardo Blyde.

“The heads of state and the High Representative urged the Venezuelan government and the Venezuelan opposition’s Unitary Platform to resume dialogue and negotiation within the framework of the Mexico process, with the aim of reaching an agreement, among other items on the agenda, on the conditions for the next elections. They called for a political negotiation that leads to the organization of fair, transparent and inclusive elections for all, allowing the participation of all who wish, in accordance with the law and international treaties in force, with international follow-up.”

says the statement.

The presidents and the High Representative, also according to the declaration, guarantee that if there is progress in the negotiation of the elections, Venezuela will be able to get rid of the economic sanctions currently imposed on the country.

“This process must be accompanied by a suspension of sanctions, of all types, with a view to their complete suspension”

says the text.

Meeting participants pledged to maintain the dialogue on the matter over the next period.

Venezuela will have general elections next year, and the opposition in the country is questioning decisions by public bodies that disqualified some of its main candidates. In the most recent case, former deputy María Corina Machado was sentenced to the loss of political rights for 15 years. Opposition politicians Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano are also equally disqualified from running for the country’s Presidency. The election date has not yet been set.

*With information from Agência Brasil

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