Brazil's government defends respect for new Venezuelan National Assembly
Member of the opposition alliance, Julio Borges, speaks with journalists before the inauguration of the new Venezuelan National Assembly 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Brazilian government celebrates the inauguration of the new Venezuelan National Assembly on Tuesday (Jan. 5) and said they trust that the constitutional duties and prerogatives of the new National Assembly and its members, elected on December 6th, will be respected.
At last month's parliamentary elections, the opposition alliance Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) gained the first victory in 16 years, winning 112 of the 167 seats that form the Parliament, which gave them a supermajority in the National Assembly and gave the alliance considerable power and marked a historic turning point against Chavismo.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry stated that "the Brazilian government is attentive and interested in the developments in Venezuela's legislative elections, held last December 6th, celebrated the inauguration of the new Venezuelan National Assembly, and urged all Venezuelan political agents to hold and improve dialogue and coexistence that should be the democratic societies' mark of excellence.”
The ministry added that the Brazilian government trusts that the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, freely and democratically expressed in the elections, will be fully respected and “also trusts that the constitutional duties and prerogatives of the new Venezuelan National Assembly and its elected members will be respected." The note also pointed out that "there is no place in the 21st century at South America for political solutions out of the institutions and of the most absolute respect for democracy and rule of law."
According to Itamaraty, the fairness of December 6th election campaign has been certified by UNASUR's (Union of South American Nations) electoral mission, led by Dominican Republic former President Leonel Fernández, with support and participation of Brazil.
"Its official results have been published and validated by Venezuela's National Electoral Council and instantly recognized at the time by all the country's political forces," concluded the Foreign Ministry.
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Brazil's government defends respect for new Venezuelan National Assembly
