Colombia’s Petro Has a Role to Play in Venezuela’s Election Crisis

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is notorious for his adjacent relations pinch Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has piloted Venezuela’s descent into dictatorship complete nan past decade. Since taking agency 2 years ago, Petro has reopened nan 2 countries’ shared border and rebuilt negotiated ties that, aft years of intermittent tensions, fell apart nether his blimpish predecessor. But lately, Petro has been fighting for a return to populist successful neighboring Venezuela, and he could play a decisive domiciled successful pressuring nan Maduro authorities to grant nan results of Sunday’s statesmanlike election.

The government-controlled electoral authorities claim that Maduro received 51 percent of nan vote, but independent observers and exit polls opportunity guidance campaigner Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won overwhelmingly, consistent pinch pre-election polling. The U.S. and leaders passim nan region formed uncertainty connected nan charismatic results, pinch Chilean President Gabriel Boric describing nan tally as “hard to believe.” The guidance is still calibrating its response, moreover arsenic clashes betwixt information forces and anti-government protesters near 16 people, including 1 soldier, dead.

But immoderate longer-term strategy to person nan Maduro authorities to reconsider its determination to bargain nan predetermination will trust connected world support, peculiarly from leaders specified arsenic Petro who still person nan receptor of decision-makers successful Caracas.