Colombia calls for vote count

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for a transparent vote count in Venezuela following the reelection of Nicolás Maduro, which has been marred by allegations of fraud and sparked violent protests. Colombia's Foreign Minister Luis Murillo emphasized the need for the international community to audit the election results, while the Interior Minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, urged for independent verification involving opposition and international observers. Meanwhile, Portugal's government has also advocated for impartial verification of the election results. Maduro's official victory of 51.2% over opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who received 44.2%, has been met with skepticism, with claims from opposition figures alleging widespread vote rigging. Several commentators have pointed out inconsistencies in the reported results, raising doubts about their legitimacy. Amid these tensions, Colombia, which hosts a significant number of Venezuelan migrants, continues to stress the importance of democracy and transparency in Venezuela's electoral process.