Maduro rejects new elections suggested by Lula and Petro: "Venezuela has sovereignty"
President Lula advocates for new elections and the removal of Western sanctions
247 - The President of Venezuela received appeals from Brazil and Colombia for new elections to be held after his victory was declared by the electoral authority but contested by the opposition and the United States, in alliance with the international far-right.
President Lula advocates for new elections and the removal of Western sanctions as a way out of the impasse, but according to Maduro, Venezuela's sovereignty must be respected.
"Venezuela has sovereignty, it is an independent country, with a constitution and institutions. Any conflicts that arise in Venezuela of any kind are resolved among Venezuelans, with their institutions, laws, and constitution. I never practice microphone diplomacy," Maduro said in remarks to the local press.
Maduro also stated that Venezuela has always respected Brazil's democratic process, including during the coup attempt on January 8. "In Brazil, former President Bolsonaro, a far-right figure and ally of the fascist far-right in Venezuela, also cried fraud and did not accept his defeat. It was the Brazilian tribunal that decided, and nothing came from Venezuela, nor from the world. Holy word to the Brazilian tribunal. After January 8, with the attempted coup, what Venezuela did was condemn the violence of fascism," Maduro added.