Lula still does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's president-elect

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday (Aug. 15) reiterated that he still does not recognize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the July 28 elections. "Not yet. He [Maduro] knows that he owes Brazilian society and the world an explanation," Lula stated when asked, during an interview with Radio T in Curitiba, Paraná state, if he acknowledged the election results.

Venezuela's National Electoral Council declared Maduro re-elected with 51.21 percent of the vote, while the main opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2 percent. The opposition, along with several nations including Brazil, has questioned the legitimacy of Maduro's victory and is demanding transparency in the process, calling for the publication of the minutes from each of the more than 30,000 polling stations.

Electoral records held by parties supporting the Venezuelan government have been submitted to the country’s Supreme Court of Justice. Meanwhile, the campaign of candidate Edmundo González has also published electoral minutes online, based on records from supporting parties, which indicate a victory for González.

The Brazilian president has called for either the formation of a coalition government in the neighboring country, including opposition participation, or the holding of new elections. Maduro will remain Venezuela's president until January 10, 2025, when the election winner is scheduled to take office.

"I personally spoke with Maduro before the elections, emphasizing that the transparency of the electoral process and the legitimacy of the results were crucial for us to continue advocating for the lifting of sanctions against Venezuela," Lula recalled.

Since August 2017, Venezuela has been facing an international economic blockade that limits its access to global credit markets. Since January 2019, this blockade has also extended to the oil and other minerals markets.