US President Joe Biden seemingly backed a new election in Venezuela, after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also floated the idea, despite rejection from both Venezuela's ruling party and its opposition, which both claim victory in the July 28 contest.
Biden spoke to reporters in the wake of Lula's suggestion that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro could call a new contest involving international observers as a potential solution for the political crisis in the country. The US has rejected Madura's victory claim.
Asked if he supports a new election in Venezuela, Biden said "I do".
A National Security Council spokesperson later said Biden was, "speaking to the absurdity of Maduro and his representatives not coming clean about the July 28 elections," without fully walking back Biden's comment.
The spokesperson added it is "abundantly clear" that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won the election.
A US official, speaking on background, said the US position had not changed and the vast majority of countries in the region were asking Maduro to release the results and recognise the outcome of the election.
The new election suggestion is among several from the international community which have no support so far from either Maduro or his opposition coalition opponents.
The US, which hardened oil sanctions in April on the OPEC member for what it said was Maduro's failure to comply with a deal on electoral conditions, and other Western countries are showing little sign of swift, tough action over what many of them have condemned as voting fraud.
Maduro rejected Biden and Lula's comments, saying the United States and Brazil have had contested elections where Venezuela has refrained from involving itself.
"I reject absolutely that the United States is trying to become Venezuela's electoral authority," Maduro said on state television. "Biden gave an interventionist opinion on the internal issues of Venezuela ... half an hour later they squashed it."
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado ruled out Biden and Lula's suggestion.
"The election already happened," Machado told journalists from Argentina and Chile in a video call later on Thursday. "Maduro must be made to know that the cost of his staying grows with each day that passes."
Ruling party officials in Venezuela have also previously ruled out new elections.
Lula had said a "coalition government" could be another possible solution for Venezuela.
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