What to expect from Lula’s conversation with Colombia and Mexico

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to hold a video conference on Monday (12) with the presidents of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to discuss the electoral process in Venezuela. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the late afternoon, according to sources at the Planalto Palace.

This will be the second conversation between the three leaders on the topic in less than two weeks. The first virtual meeting took place on August 1, when the presidents initially discussed the Venezuelan electoral situation.

Interlocution role

Brazil, Colombia and Mexico have sought to position themselves as interlocutors for the Nicolás Maduro regime and the Venezuelan opposition. At the meeting on Monday, the leaders are expected to assess the current panorama of the electoral process and the ongoing negotiations.

The possibility of the three presidents holding separate talks with Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González is under discussion. Although there is no set date for these meetings, Brazilian government sources indicate that there is a sense of urgency, given that the Venezuelan election took place on July 28.

Cautious positioning

Brazil has been cautious about recognizing the election results. Unlike some countries that have already recognized González as president-elect, the Brazilian government has avoided taking sides, seeking to maintain its position as a legitimate mediator between the parties.

The three countries reinforced, in joint statements, the need to disclose disaggregated polling data and advocate a peaceful solution to the electoral issue in Venezuela.

The Itamaraty has been especially careful in its statements, avoiding rejecting certain situations and maintaining the demand for transparency in the process.

The situation is complicated by the hardening of the Maduro regime’s position, as evidenced by the recent declaration by the Venezuelan Supreme Court, controlled by Chavismo, that its decision on the electoral audit will be final. This scenario places Brazil in a delicate position, testing its ability to remain an impartial interlocutor.