Brazil, Colombia Urge New Venezuelan Election Proof

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to either provide proof of his election victory or call for a new poll with international observers. Lula's calls for a new election have been supported by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Joe Biden, although the White House later clarified Biden's remarks. Lula's suggestion includes the possibility of a coalition government and the lifting of sanctions. Maduro has rejected these calls, asserting Venezuela's sovereignty over its electoral processes. The Venezuelan opposition, led by Edmundo González Urrutia, claims victory and demands the release of voting data, while opposition leader Maria Corina Machado criticized the idea of a new election as disrespectful to the voters' will.