The former Uruguayan president José “Pepe” Mujica believe that change will come”from inside“in Venezuela”at some point“, as stated in an interview with the news agency AFP.
“I have an intimate disagreement with authoritarian regimes. What I do not endorse is outside intervention. The problems of Venezuela they have to solve them Venezuelans. And in any case you have to help them. But don’t get involved,” said the former president (2010-2015).
“There is going to be some evolution inside Venezuela at some point”, he assured.
Mujica denied that the regime Maduroin power since 2013, whether left-wing or comparable to that of his predecessor, the late former president Hugo Chavez (1999-2013). “Some of the Chavistas are outside of that and many are persecuted in the world”, he stressed.
Mujicaa former guerrilla who embraced democracy after spending 14 years in prison, most of it during the dictatorship (1973-1985), also deplored the “authoritarianism” of Nicaragua low Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillowho fought against the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza (1937-1979), governed in the 1980s with the FSLNand returned to power since 2007.
“What about Nicaragua has no meaning (meaning)“, said. “It is incredible sandinista revolution What does it lead to? the old one is full of stones and things. It’s monstrous. (…) It was a dreamy revolution against Somoza.”
“I put the Cubans aside. Not because they are right. About 70 years ago they defined the dictatorship of the proletariat and a single party. And we have relationships with China and with Vietnamand we don’t have any problems. So let’s bank that situation. “I don’t agree with that, because it doesn’t work,” he said. Mujica.
And he added: “What bothers me the most is when they play at democracy and then fraud it. That’s unbearable”.
“Authoritarianism in Latin America is a step backwards. We experienced it historically when the United States got involved everywhere,” said Mujica. “But now we do franks too.”
Mujica questioned the former Bolivian president Evo Morales (2006-2019), confronted by the control of the ruling left with the president Luis Arcewhom he accuses of wanting “outlaw it” of the electoral race using the justice system.
“In life there is a time to arrive and a time to leave (…) What happened to Evo is inconceivable“, said; and also criticized Argentina Cristina Kirchnertwice president (2007-2015) and vice president between 2019 and 2023.
“There is the old Kirchner in Argentina, at the head of Peronism. Instead of acting like an old counselor and leaving new generations behind, no, she’s screwing around there. How hard it is for them to let go of the cake! Who gave birth to him!”he exclaimed Mujica.
The former Uruguayan president also sees with concern that his “old friend” Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvawho governs for the third time Brazilhas no successor in sight.
“Lula is close to 80 years old. And it doesn’t have a spare. That is the misfortune of Brazil“, said Mujica.
In another order, the former Uruguayan president predicted the failure of the trade agreement that the European Union (EU) and Mercosur seek to finalize after 25 years of negotiations, and to which France is fiercely opposed.
“It doesn’t even come out in the goalkeeper’s year. Because the French peasants don’t want to. And French peasants dominate French culture“said Mujica.
The former president acknowledged that if he were French he would be on the side of the farmers. “But since I’m not French, it doesn’t suit me“, said.
The terms of the pact between the 27 EU countries and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, by the Southern Common Market, were agreed in 2019, but several countries, including France, Italy and Poland, they reject itunder pressure from their agricultural sectors.
The agreement would allow the four countries of the South American bloc to increase their EU entry quotas for beef, poultry and pork, as well as honey, sugar and other products.
EU agricultural unions denounce unfair competitionsince the production of these foods in Mercosur is not subject to the same environmental and social requirements or the same health standards in case of defective controls.
“They take that as a pretext“said Mujica. “They are defending their interests. They cannot compete with Mercosur”.
Discussions on the progress of the negotiations will be on the table next week, during the 65th Mercosur summit on December 5 and 6 in Montevideo.
(AFP)
