In May 2023, Lula warmly embraced and fully supported Venezuela's authoritarian leftist President Nicolás Maduro. Lula dismissed charges against Maduro of human rights and civil rights abuses as a political "constructed narrative." Lula was criticized by Uruguay's President Luis Lacalle Pou, who said that the "worst thing we can do" is pretend there are no significant human rights problems in Venezuela, and by Chile's President Gabriel Boric, who said that Lula was making light of human rights violations in Venezuela. Lula also criticized as "unjustified" U.S. sanctions on Venezuela for its alleged human rights abuses, and criticized the United States for denying the legitimacy of Maduro, who the U.S. said had not allowed free elections.
In May 2023, Lula warmly embraced and fully supported Venezuela's authoritarian leftist President Nicolás Maduro. L,ula dismissed charges against Maduro of human rights and civil rights abuses as a political "constructed narrative." Lula was criticized by Uruguay's President Luis Lacalle Pou, who said that the "worst thing we can do" is pretend there are no significant human rights problems in Ve?nezuela, and by Chile's President Gabriel Boric, who said that Lula was making light of human rights violations in Venezuela. Lula also critici?zed as "unjustified" U.S. sanctions on Venezuela for its alleged human rights abuses, and criticized the United States for denying the legitimacy of Maduro, who the U.S. said had not allowed free elections.