President Gustavo Petro insists on new elections in Venezuela: 'Maduro and Corinna would do well to allow this peaceful solution'

While the United States Congress debates the legal feasibility of a possible military intervention in Venezuela, Colombian President Gustavo Petro continues to promote his proposal to hold new elections in the neighboring country as a way out of the crisis. However, the initiative has so far failed to gain traction with either Chavismo or the opposition.

"If the U.S. government recognizes that attacking Venezuela is illegal, they agree with me. Neither missiles nor a foreign invasion are legal, neither under U.S. law nor under international treaties. That's why the path I propose may be more realistic: to unleash political dialogue in Venezuela and call elections with real guarantees for all contenders. Maduro and Corinna would do well to allow this peaceful and sovereign solution for the Venezuelan people ," wrote the head of state, who is currently in Brazil.

The initiative does not appear to have a future after what happened in the elections of July 28, 2024, in which the National Electoral Council of Venezuela proclaimed Nicolás Maduro the winner without presenting any evidence, while the opposition claimed to have won and released copies of the tally sheets as support.

In some sectors, the Colombian president's proposal has been interpreted as a lifeline for a Maduro increasingly isolated on the international stage. The Colombian government and Foreign Ministry have been emphatic in stating that they do not recognize the Venezuelan government. However, the signing of agreements such as the memorandum of understanding for the creation of a binational economic zone on the border has led some to suspect otherwise.

The truth is that Petro has vehemently opposed US military operations in the Caribbean Sea, which are ostensibly aimed at combating drug trafficking. In fact, the Colombian president denounced that Washington had shot down a boat allegedly carrying Colombians, sparking outrage from the White House days before adding Petro and his inner circle to the dreaded Clinton List.

According to the EFE news agency, the Trump administration acknowledged before the United States Congress that it cannot legally justify, at this time, a future US attack on Venezuela and stated that for now it does not plan incursions into that country as part of its military campaign against drug trafficking, media reported this Thursday.

However, the U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected a bipartisan resolution that sought to compel President Donald Trump to refrain from using military force against Venezuela unless such action is first approved by Congress. The initiative was defeated by a narrow margin of 51 votes to 49.

Since September, the Pentagon has carried out at least 16 attacks against vessels suspected of carrying drugs. According to official figures, 67 people have died in these operations.

JUAN PABLO PENAGOS RAMÍREZ

With EFE and input from the international section