BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian President Gustavo Petro, identified as a significant supporter of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, has withdrawn his endorsement for the presidential election held in Venezuela this past July, labeling it a “mistake.”
In an interview with the Brazilian media outlet Globo News, excerpts of which were shared by Petro’s office on social platforms, he expressed his current sentiments regarding the election. “Reflecting on the situation, I previously supported holding the elections; however, I do not believe there can be a legitimate vote amid a blockade,” he articulated while attending the G20 summit in Brazil.
His office has not provided any further explanations related to the purported blockade after the election held on July 28. Following that election, Petro, alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who all share a leftist orientation and have a rapport with Maduro, sought to mediate tensions as both Maduro and his primary adversary claimed victory. Nevertheless, their diplomatic efforts have failed to yield results.
In the same interview, Petro expressed his diminished confidence in continuing such diplomatic initiatives, suggesting that “a unified approach regarding Venezuela, irrespective of the policy stance, is no longer feasible.” He also ruled out the likelihood of a government transition occurring swiftly.
The controversy surrounding the election revolves around the tally sheets produced by the electronic voting machinery, which are protected by electoral bodies and representatives from various parties. These sheets provide a comprehensive breakdown of votes for each candidate.
Traditionally, Venezuela’s electoral authorities would have released detailed results on their website; however, on July 29, they reported a hacking incident that prevented them from doing so. Concurrently, the main opposition coalition managed to obtain tally sheets from more than 80% of the voting machines and subsequently published these results online, claiming that their candidate, former diplomat Edmundo González, had achieved a decisive victory over Maduro.
Prominent leaders, including Petro and Lula, have urged the Venezuelan government to disclose complete election results. Petro remarked that by not providing this information, Venezuela has created a “dark map” that obscures the electoral records. The Venezuelan government’s centralized press office has yet to respond to inquiries regarding these issues.
The next presidential term in Venezuela is set to commence on January 10.