International

The Venezuelan Supreme Court refuses to review the sentence that validated Maduro’s re-election

The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela rejected this Friday a request for constitutional review of the sentence that validated the controversial re-election of Nicolás Maduro in the elections of July 28, whose result was reported as fraudulent and many countries have not recognized it.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court declared inadmissible the request, which was introduced on September 25 by former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, in an action that had the support of about twenty dissident leaders of Chavismo and the traditional leadership of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV).

The decision assures that the expert opinion made by the Electoral Chamber of the TSJ to validate the re-election of Maduro – which could not be followed and verified by representatives of the majority opposition – was carried out “impeccably with due guarantees, through which the unobjectible integrity” of the bulletin announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) was verified, according to the institution.

“All of which was verified by this Constitutional Chamber, thus reaffirming that, through the electoral process carried out on July 28, 2024, the will of the Venezuelan people was expressed,” underlines the sentence.

Ratifies Maduro’s re-election

Likewise, the new decision of the TSJ – composed almost entirely of magistrates related to Chavismo – ratifies that the re-election of the president was certified “categorically.”

In addition, it is recalled that all the electoral material consigned by the CNE “is under the protection” of the TSJ, which maintains the impossibility of accessing the voting records of each center, something that the international community has asked to review to certify or not the announced result.

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The majority opposition – grouped in the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – maintains that its standard bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, is the winner of the elections based on the “83.5% of the electoral records” collected by witnesses and board members on the day of the elections, documents recognized as valid by several countries, and qualified as “false” by the ruling party.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.

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International

Trump says Iran seeks new talks after failed negotiations in Pakistan

Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran has reached out to United States to resume negotiations, following the collapse of recent talks held in Islamabad.

“We’ve been contacted by the other side,” Trump told reporters, adding that Iran is eager to reach a deal “at all costs.” Speaking from the Oval Office, he reiterated that his main objective is to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons and warned that he will not allow Iran to “blackmail” the international community.

After negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without agreement on Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. would move to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil trade.

The waterway had already been disrupted by Iran in response to a U.S. and Israeli offensive launched on February 28, causing significant shocks to the global economy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump further warned that any Iranian vessel attempting to bypass the U.S. naval blockade in the strait would be “eliminated immediately.”