Venezuelan Opposition Leader Calls on Colombia to Recognize Her Victory, Pressuring Maduro

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Tuesday urged Colombian President Gustavo Petro to recognize her faction’s victory in the contested July presidential election, calling for a decisive move to pressure Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power, The Associated Press reports.

Machado, who has been in hiding for the past two months fearing arrest, delivered her message in a virtual address to the Colombian Senate. Her speech, part of a broader campaign to increase international pressure on Maduro, comes just months before his next term begins on January 10.

While electoral authorities loyal to Maduro declared him the winner, they refused to release detailed results, claiming their website was hacked. However, Machado’s opposition coalition, which she leads, secured vote tally sheets from over 80% of the electronic voting machines and published them online.

Machado stressed to the Colombian senators that these records show opposition candidate Edmundo González defeating Maduro by a landslide. She called for their support in making a government transition “a reality.”

Following the election, several leftist leaders, including Petro, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, attempted to mediate a resolution. However, their efforts proved unsuccessful, and Maduro has since consolidated his power, reshuffling his cabinet and jailing over 2,000 opponents.

González, a former diplomat, was forced into exile in Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the release of the vote tally sheets.

Machado also highlighted the potential consequences for Colombia if Maduro remains in power. Petro’s administration has prioritized achieving peace agreements with rebel groups like the National Liberation Army and Segunda Marquetalia, both operating along the Colombian-Venezuelan border. While Maduro’s government initially agreed to act as a guarantor in these processes, negotiations with the National Liberation Army stalled earlier this year.

Machado’s appeal to Petro and the Colombian Senate marks a renewed push from the Venezuelan opposition to gain international recognition for their claimed victory. It remains unclear what impact this appeal will have, but it underscores the continued political tension and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential term in Venezuela.