Luis Lacalle Pou, president of Uruguay, responded this Tuesday to the most recent statements by the executive vice president of Nicolás Maduro’s administration, Delcy Rodriguez.
After being called by the Chavista official “footman“, the Uruguayan president simply responded: “When there are no arguments, the grievance is resorted to.”.
Lacalle Pou’s impressions were generated during his visit to the Artigas department, within the framework of the celebration of a carnival parade, as reported by the local press. The Uruguayan president responded to the publication that Rodríguez made through his account on X, responding to a statement in which he reaffirmed that for his government “in Venezuela there is a dictatorship”.
“When there are no arguments, the grievance is resorted to.”was the forceful response of the president. In the same way, he took the opportunity to urge the administration of Nicolás Maduro to “reflect on whether you want to have a full democracy or not”.
“Since (Rodríguez) is so interested in what we said, it would be necessary to justify a regime like the one they have carried out for a long time: political prisoners, elections that are not transparent“, he stated, after remembering that in the face of insult and grievance, the best thing Maduro and his people can do is reflect on themselves, what they are really looking for is a full democracy.
Lacalle Pou reiterated his position in relation to Venezuelasomething that he considers is nothing new, given that it has been the same for some years.
“You have heard me say it when I was a senator and at different summits in international organizations, and the other day they asked me and I said the same thing as always, you should not be surprised”, he stressed.
These arguments between the Uruguayan president and Delcy Rodríguez were generated after last week Montevideo called its ambassador in Venezuela, Eber da Rosa, for consultations to report on what it considers “worrying events”, which in his opinion threaten the holding of free elections, which is why in that press conference he reiterated his position towards Venezuela.
“I think it breaks your eyes that it is a dictatorship, that there are no free elections. Today again, another person unjustly detained. The one who doesn’t want to say it is for a reason, because if it barks, has four legs and wags its tail, if someone doesn’t tell me it’s a dog for a reason it will be“, said.
These words did not sit well with the Maduro administration, and on Monday, Delcy Rodríguez asked the president of Uruguay not to “interfere in the affairs of Venezuela”, rather called him to deal with the problems of his nation.
It must be remembered that on February 1, Lacalle Pou assured that the elections that Venezuela will hold in the second half of this year will not be free and democratic after the disqualification of opposition leader María Corina Machado.
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**Interview with Luis Lacalle Pou, President of Uruguay**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, President Lacalle Pou. Recently, you responded to statements made by Delcy Rodriguez, the executive vice president of Venezuela, who referred to you as a “footman.” Can you elaborate on your thoughts regarding her comments?
**Lacalle Pou:** Thank you for having me. It is disheartening when political discourse devolves into personal attacks. My response, “When there are no arguments, the grievance is resorted to,” reflects my belief that meaningful dialogue should be based on facts and reason, rather than insults.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the situation in Venezuela, asserting that under Maduro’s government, there exists a dictatorship. What led you to make that statement?
**Lacalle Pou:** Venezuela’s political landscape is marked by repression and a lack of democratic processes. There are political prisoners and elections that lack transparency. It’s crucial for us, as leaders, to speak out against such violations of democratic principles and support the pursuit of genuine democracy for the Venezuelan people.
**Interviewer:** In your response to Rodriguez, you urged the Maduro administration to reflect on their governance. What do you believe are the necessary steps for Venezuela to achieve a full democracy?
**Lacalle Pou:** First and foremost, they need to acknowledge the reality of the situation—political repression cannot be ignored. They must allow for free and fair elections, release political prisoners, and engage in open dialogue with the opposition. Only through these actions can they begin to rebuild trust with their citizens and the international community.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. President. Your firm stance on democracy and support for human rights is clear, and it highlights the importance of international dialogue in addressing these crucial issues.
**Lacalle Pou:** Thank you. It is our responsibility as regional leaders to advocate for democracy and support those who fight for their rights. We must strive to foster the conditions for true democratic governance across the region.