Lula does not recognize Maduro’s victory or that of Edmundo González Urrutia

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, He insisted on Friday that he does not recognize the electoral victory of his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro.despite the decision of the Supreme Court of that country in favor of the Chavista leader and, I clarify, that it does not endorse the victory of the opposition standard-bearer Edmundo González Urrutia.

During an interview with Brazilian radio, Lula said that he does not “question” the Venezuelan Supreme Court, which last week ratified Maduro’s victory, but explained that, in his opinion, this institution is not the right one to resolve the dispute.

“President Maduro did not listen to the National Electoral Council (CNE) and went straight to the Supreme Court. He should go through the Council, which was created for that purpose,” he said.

The Brazilian president said there was “no evidence” of a Maduro victory, but clarified that he did not recognize opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the winner of the July 28 elections.

Lula once again highlighted his mediation efforts together with the Colombian Government to demand that the CNE present the electoral records broken down by voting table, a request that has not yet been met.

He also said it was “important” to call new elections, an idea that has been rejected by both sides.

“Maduro will face the consequences of his gesture,” said the president, who said he was “aware of having tried to help a lot.”

The CNE declared Maduro the winner on the night of the election, but the opposition later published copies of the minutes from a majority of the polling stations and these showed González Urrutia winning by a wide margin.