(CNN in Spanish) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that the obstacles to the registration of opposition candidate Corina Llores, who was unable to run this week for the Democratic Unionist Party (PUD) in Venezuela's presidential elections, are “serious” and have no explanation. Legal or political.

In a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who concluded his official tour in Brazil on Thursday, Lula said: “The matter is dangerous because the candidate cannot be registered, as justice did not rule against her.”

He added, “There is no legal or political explanation. Any opponent has been banned from running.”

Lula's statements come after the Brazilian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday expressing its concern about the difficulties reported by opponents regarding their registration in Venezuela. The Democratic Unionist Party, which makes up the majority of the opposition forces, said it could not access the National Electoral Council system to register Yuri. The deadline for registering applications ended on Monday.

The statement read: “Based on the information available, it was noted that the candidate referred to by the Unionist Platform, who is an opposition political force, and who was not affected by judicial rulings, was prevented from registering, which is not consistent with the Barbados Agreements.” Issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Corina Llores (left), alternative in the upcoming elections to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado (right), after a press conference in Caracas, on March 22, 2024. (Photo by Federico Parra/AFP)

Joris was the candidate chosen by the DUP to replace Maria Corina Machado, who won the opposition primary but was disqualified from the competition last January. The action imposed on Machado was to not include the payment of food allowances in his sworn declaration of assets. Machado insists the exclusion is illegal.

In an interview with Fernando Rincon on CNN en Español's “Conclusions” program on Monday, Joris commented: “I am not ineligible, I have no defect, I have not held a public office, and therefore, they cannot disqualify me.”

As of this Friday, the Venezuelan government had not responded directly to the position of the Brazilian President. CNN is trying to contact CNE, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to find out their reaction to the statements.