Brazilian President Lula da Silva will temporarily assume the presidency of Mercosur, starting with his participation in the upcoming Mercosur Summit in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
During his six-month tenure, Lula aims to advocate for the reintegration of Venezuela into the bloc.
Venezuela’s participation in Mercosur was suspended in 2017 due to concerns over the “rupture of democratic order” under President Nicolás Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez.
While Brazil and Argentina support Venezuela’s return, Paraguay and Uruguay remain cautious.
Under Lula’s leadership, the Brazilian government intends to engage in dialogue with the Venezuelan government regarding their potential reintegration.
However, no specific discussions on Venezuela are scheduled at this time, and the focus will be on establishing general guidelines.
Despite Lula’s defense of Maduro’s actions and his assertion that the accusations against the Venezuelan leader are part of a narrative, there are legal obstacles to Venezuela’s reinstatement in Mercosur.
The Ushuaia Protocol, signed in 1998, obliges Mercosur members to uphold democratic principles. Maduro has held power since Hugo Chávez’s death 10 years ago, and there have been allegations of election fraud, persecution of political opponents, and human rights violations under his regime.
Lula has chosen to renew relations with Venezuela, hosting Maduro in Brazil with military honors and planning a second visit by the Venezuelan leader.
As the president of Mercosur, Lula aims not only to reintegrate Venezuela but also to advocate for the inclusion of new member countries, including Bolivia, whose accession protocol was signed in 2015 but has yet to be ratified by the Brazilian Congress.
In summary, Lula assumes the temporary presidency of Mercosur and intends to promote discussions on Venezuela’s reintegration into the bloc.
However, challenges exist due to the Ushuaia Protocol’s requirements and concerns over Venezuela’s democratic practices.
Lula also aims to explore the inclusion of additional countries, such as Bolivia, within Mercosur.