Buenos Aires [Argentina], August 1: Colombian President Gustavo Petro is calling for a review of the Venezuelan election results after the controversial re-election of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro.
"I call on the Venezuelan government to facilitate a peaceful conclusion to the elections by allowing a transparent review of the votes and results lists under the observation of all political forces and professional international observers," the left-wing head of state wrote on X.
After the presidential election on Sunday, the electoral authority officially declared Maduro the winner. The opposition accuses the government of rigging the election. The US, the EU and a number of Latin American countries also doubt the official election results and are calling for the detailed results to be published.
"The serious doubts about the electoral process could lead to a deep and violent division in society," warned Petro. In contrast to his conservative predecessors, the former guerrillero maintains a fairly good relationship with Maduro.
However, Colombia has been hit harder than any other country by its neighbour's severe humanitarian and economic crisis.Of the more than 7 million Venezuelans who have left their homeland over the past 10 years due to poverty and violence, almost 3 million have settled in Colombia.
Meanwhile, pressure was mounting on the streets of Venezuela after at least six people were killed and more than 700 detained in the protests against President Maduro's controversial re-election.
The non-governmental organization Foro Penal wrote on X on Tuesday that two young people were among the victims of the Monday protests that turned violent. According to the public prosecutor's office, one police officer was also killed. Across the country, 749 demonstrators have been detained, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said.
Source: Qatar Tribune