Lula wants Maduro to take office, but Bolsonaro’s action becomes an obstacle to the invitation
4 min read
Brasília – President-elect team, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), informs Itamaraty members that “all countries with which Brazil maintains diplomatic relations” must be invited to the inauguration – which includes Venezuela. The call and the arrival of the Venezuelan Nicolas MaduroHowever, he faced action by Bolsonaro’s government preventing him from entering the country.
Ministerial Order No. 7 of 2019 signed by the then Ministers of Justice, Sergio Moroforeign affairs, Ernesto AraujoIt is forbidden to enter the country of senior officials of the Venezuelan regime who, through their actions, violate the principles and objectives of the Federal Constitution, attack democracy, human dignity, and the spread of human rights. Maduro is part of the list drawn up by Itamaraty on the basis of the decree.
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The text is based on the articles of the Brazilian Constitution, the resolutions of the Organization of American States (OAS), to which Brazil has committed itself, the resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN) and the declarations of the Lima Group.
For this reason, members of the transitional government from the External Relations and Organization of the Opening Ceremony group are studying how to make the Chavista’s arrival possible. They appreciate the president Jair Bolsonaro He will not respond to the request to cancel the decree and that the case will be used politically against Lula.
In 2018, Bolsonaro directed Itmarate to omit Maduro and Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, from his inauguration ceremony. They were also summoned based on the practice of sending invitations to all countries with which Brazil maintains diplomatic relations. At the time, the Venezuelan chancellery stated that it would not send representatives to Bolsonaro’s inauguration.
The topic was discussed in the transitional period and with Itamarati. Members of the group understand that for now, even Maduro cannot be invited, even though Brazil has not formally severed ties, only withdrawing diplomats from the neighboring country, disrupting the embassy and consular network. Venezuela still has an embassy in Brasilia, but without high-level representatives.
The proposal to invite Maduro has become an issue in the transition period — as well as in Itamaraty, where diplomats expect, at the very least, a diplomatic unease to be resolved in the coming weeks.
Lula’s interlocutors even considered, for example, the possibility of the president-elect rescinding the decree as one of the first actions upon taking office. measure will not be possible. First, because, for that, Lula would first need to take office and invite Maduro to be in the country before that. Even if he did it on the morning of January 1, there would be no time to fly from Caracas.
Another problem: Countries send introductory delegations to inspect security conditions where an international leader is visiting, but the names Maduro has indicated for the trip to Brazil before he takes office may also be subject to sanctions based on OAS decree or understandings. .
Lula’s interlocutors ensure that the president-elect will reorient relations with Caracas and reconnect with the Maduro regime, as one of his first actions. Lula would stop recognizing Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, for example. The transition team has already asked Itamaraty for information about Brazilian diplomatic facilities in Venezuela, with a view to reopening the embassy.
It would be in his favor to change the international scenario, since 2019. At that time, the international community adopted a policy of maximum pressure in the hope of strangling the Maduro regime economically and politically. Despite this, supporting the Venezuelans in power puts the strategy in check. The departure of Donald Trump from the White House and the war in Ukraine also brought about a change in Washington’s position, that partially lifted sanctions on Venezuela To promote political dialogue between Maduro and the Chavismo opposition.
At the beginning of the year, the Vice President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Iris Varela, entered Brazil to meet with left-wing parliamentarians in the National Congress. The Organization of American States accuses her of violating human rights. Under the decision taken by the multilateral body with a vote from Brazil, she has been approved and will be banned from entering the country. However, he managed to get to Brasilia and hold meetings with parliamentarians. From here, the Venezuelan representative of the Maduro government travels to Argentina, but upon her arrival in the country, she is stopped by local authorities and returns to Caracas.
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