Brazil’s Lula da Silva supports free elections in Venezuela

Brazilian presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he wants free elections in Venezuela and a democratic transition of power like the one in his country.

He added that he disagrees with Western countries recognizing former National Assembly speaker and opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader after Nicolas Maduro’s disputed re-election in 2018.

“We have to treat Venezuela with respect because we always want Venezuela to be as democratic as possible,” he said in a press conference with foreign correspondents as he campaigns to return to office in the October elections.

His views on Venezuela differ from those of his rival and incumbent Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who, like the United States, has backed Guaido and severed diplomatic ties with the Maduro regime.

Lula da Silva is/was accused of not criticizing human rights abuses in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. If he wins the October election, he is expected to restore relations with Nicolas Maduro, a historical ally of his leftist Workers’ Party.

“Brazil will treat Venezuela with respect. I hope that the European Union will treat Venezuela with respect and that the United States will restore relations with Venezuela,” Lula told foreign reporters.

Faced with a shock to oil demand caused by the Ukraine war, the United States has eased sanctions on Venezuelan oil production. He praised the Biden administration’s rapprochement between Washington and Caracas.

“I hope it’s not just about oil,” he added.