Presidents of Colombia and Brazil propose safeguards for Venezuela election loser

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - The presidents of Brazil and Colombia held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday in Bogota, where they addressed various issues but the July 28 elections in Venezuela took center stage.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro proposed a democratic pact between the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition that would guarantee that the life and political rights of the runner-up of the forthcoming presidential election are respected.

“We have talked about Venezuela. Today it is news and we transmitted to President Lula a proposal that was sent to President Maduro and the opposition, which is being discussed without a concrete outcome. It has to do with a possibility of a plebiscite in the upcoming election that guarantees a democratic pact, that guarantees for anyone who loses in those elections certainty and security over their life, over their rights, over the political guarantees that any human being must have in their respective country,” said Petro in a joint presser with Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The two Latin American leaders issued a call for dialogue and negotiation in Venezuela, and expressed their rejection of sanctions imposed on the South American country by the US, "which only serve to increase the suffering of the Venezuelan people."

The Colombian president had a meeting with the Venezuelan president and opposition sectors in Caracas, on April 9, which sought to reach an agreement to achieve political peace in the neighboring country, but the meeting has not yet produced tangible results for the upcoming vote.

Both leaders also signed seven cooperation agreements between Colombia and Brazil to fight hunger, human trafficking, migration, improve tourism and protect and revitalize the Amazon rainforest.

"My visit represents the renewal of a fundamental alliance for the future of South America. Colombia and Brazil work so that the public and private sectors go hand in hand so that our economies grow and improve people's lives," said Lula.