Maduro dismisses calls for new elections as opposition protests intensify

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has firmly rejected calls from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro for new elections in Venezuela.

This response follows the opposition’s refusal to accept the results of the July 28 vote that saw Maduro re-elected, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Maduro asserted that Venezuela, as a sovereign and independent nation, will address its internal conflicts through its own constitutional and legislative framework.

“Venezuela is a sovereign and independent state, it has a constitution and [its own political] institutions. Any conflicts that occur in Venezuela should be resolved by Venezuelans themselves through its institutions and on the basis of Venezuela's legislation and constitution,” he told reporters.

The disputed election has drawn international scrutiny, with Brazil and Colombia seeking a resolution to the crisis. The Venezuelan electoral authority has declared Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, though the full vote count has not been released.

The opposition claims their count shows Maduro's opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, won with 67% of the vote, and they have posted scanned copies of the vote tally online.

The election has faced widespread condemnation from international observers, including the Carter Center and the UN. American officials have indicated that available data supports Gonzalez's victory.

Opposition leaders are organizing protests on August 17, demanding the recognition of Gonzalez as the rightful winner. The unrest has led to 25 deaths, 192 injuries, and over 2,000 detentions amid widespread scepticism about the election’s transparency.