The Venezuelan opposition leader considered Lula da Silva's proposal to be "disrespectful." "The elections took place and Venezuelan society expressed itself," she said.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday called the proposal by the presidents of Brazil and Colombia to repeat the presidential elections in Venezuela "disrespectful" to Venezuelans, following the controversial election in which Nicolas Maduro was re-elected.

"To suggest ignoring what happened on July 28 is, for me, a lack of respect for Venezuelans who have given everything; popular sovereignty is respected," Machado said in a virtual conference with Argentine and Chilean media. "The elections took place and Venezuelan society expressed itself in very adverse conditions, where there was fraud and we still managed to win," she added.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva suggested that Maduro could call new elections to clear up doubts about the results that re-elected him for a third six-year term. His Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, agreed moments later, although in the latter case he set some conditions, such as the presence of international observers at the new votes.

"Yes, I do"

Machado insisted that "the voice of the people must be respected, sovereignty must be respected," and asked: "Would you accept that another election be called in your respective countries?" "There will be a second election, and if he doesn't like the results, will there be a third, fourth, fifth, until Maduro likes the results?" Machado asked.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden appeared briefly before the press before boarding the Marine One presidential helicopter. At that time, he was asked by a journalist if he supported the call for new elections in Venezuela , and he simply replied: "Yes, I do," without offering further details. Shortly afterward, the White House explained that the president "was referring to the absurdity of (President Nicolás) Maduro and his representatives not having been honest about the July 28 elections."

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for his part, said he does not consider it "prudent" to ask for new elections now.