Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that he does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the winner of Venezuela’s recent presidential election and suggested that Maduro should consider calling for a new vote.

Lula emphasized that Maduro, with six months left in his term, could create an electoral committee and allow international observers to monitor a new election.

Brazil, along with Colombia and Mexico, has taken a neutral stance on the election, urging Venezuela’s electoral body to release vote tally sheets to verify the results, The Hill has reported.

Despite being declared the winner, Maduro faces challenges as opposition claims suggest he lost by a significant margin.

Written by B.C. Begley