(Bloomberg) — The president of Colombia Gustavo Petrowhich is acting as a mediator in the political crisis in Venezuela, is proposing a democratic pact between the government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition to ensure that the loser of the upcoming presidential elections is protected from any form of political persecution.
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The proposal is being considered by Maduro and the opposition, Petro said Wednesday during a joint press conference with Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is visiting Bogota. This involves a plebiscite to be held together with the July 28 vote to gain popular support for the pact, he added.
It is a “democratic pact to guarantee all those who lose the security of their lives their political rights,” he said.
The left-wing Colombian president traveled to Caracas earlier this month to discuss solutions to the political crisis with Maduro, who has blocked several potential contenders, including the winner of the opposition primaries, from participating in the elections. He also met Manuel Rosales, one of the few opponents allowed to register for the vote.
Petro also presented the proposal to Lula during their meeting, he said.
Lula made no comments on the idea during the press conference, but agreed to the proposal and signed a joint statement that “encourages the (Venezuelan) government and opposition sectors to consider the possibility of reaching an agreement for democratic guarantees that be approved at the ballot.”
(Updates with joint statement from Petro and Lula from fourth paragraph.)
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