Brazil talks Venezuela crisis with Maduro opponents

Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo met this morning (Jan. 17) with opposition leaders and intellectuals opposing the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in addition to representatives from countries in the Lima Group and the US.

Under debate were alternate ways to tackle the political and economic crisis, emigration, and human rights violations in Venezuela. The international leaders do not recognize Maduro’s rule as legitimate, as there are doubts over the elections that kept him in power.

The meeting took place on the day following the assembly of President Jair Bolsonaro with Argentina’s Mauricio Macri in Brasília. In a statement to the press after yesterday’s (16) meeting with Bolsonaro, Macri said the Brazilian and Argentine governments share their concern over the situation facing Venezuela. Both presidents reiterated their stance against what they termed “Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship.”

“The international community has already come to realize that Maduro is a dictator seeking to remain in power through fictitious elections, incarcerating his opponents and taking Venezuelans to a desperate situation. We reiterate that we recognize the National Assembly as the only legitimate institution in Venezuela, democratically elected by the Venezuelan people,” Macri declared.

Meeting with Bolsonaro

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro welcomed exiled Venezuelan Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel Ángel Martins and Organization of the American States (OAS) International Affairs Adviser Gustavo Cinose this afternoon (Jan. 17) at the Planalto presidential palace, in Brasília.

They were joined by Brazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. The meeting with the president lasted for about one hour.

Historic Agreement

Two days ago, Venezuela’s National Constituent Assembly approved a deal hailed as historic by Congress members officially declaring Maduro’s “usurpation of the presidency.” The motion invalidates “all alleged acts emanating from the Executive branch.”

The decision was made following the arrest and subsequent release of Venezuelan lower house speaker Juan Guaidó—one of the main leaders in the opposition against Maduro.