Is Venezuela complicating Jadue again? Opposition leaders call on the mayor to express a “clear position” on the situation in that country

“It is unacceptable that Bachelet’s report does not say anything about the coup attempts that she supported.” Those were the words that, in July 2019, the mayor of Recoleta and the main presidential figure of the opposition, Daniel Jadue, launched regarding the report on Venezuela issued by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

His statements regarding the international mission – in which they denounced torture and violations of civil rights in the Caribbean country – cost him wide criticism from the entire opposition arc and even from the communist ranks themselves, even to the point that the mayor had to Call the ex-president to apologize.

The episode depicts the complex scenario that the PC and Jadue must maneuver each time they are consulted about the situation in Venezuela under the presidency of Nicolas Maduro. A situation that, they say in the center-left, now with the lapidary new report of the mission of the UN Human Rights Council, could even be repeated. But with a particular ingredient: the confessed presidential availability of the mayor of Recoleta.

Thus, from the rest of the opposition they quickly took note of the work of the international organization – in which they assured that in Venezuela “crimes against humanity” were committed of which Maduro and his ministers of Interior and Defense were aware – and summoned the Mayor and his community to be “categorical” regarding the humanitarian situation in that country.

“What one hopes is that someone who aspires to preside over the country has a clear position on this matter. Ambiguity on issues such as human rights and democracy do not correspond. I would like to hear a very clear statement from them, as well as from all political forces, “said the president of the Christian Democracy, Fuad chahin.

The same said the senator of the PPD, Felipe Harboe. “The UN report is decisive on the violation of human rights in Venezuela. I imagine that the PC will go out and demand that Maduro put an end to those crimes. Human rights are universal and cannot be conditioned by the political color of the person who violates them, ”he said. And, pointing to Jadue, he added: “He must be clear and categorical: he condemns human rights violations in Venezuela, yes or no.”

In turn, the president of that community, Heraldo Muñoz, shared his opinion on his Twitter account. “The report urges the government of Venezuela to be held accountable for crimes against humanity (…) I hope that no one criticizes the high commissioner again,” he said, referring to Jadue’s questions about Bachelet.

Likewise, without referring directly to the mayor, the deputy of Social Convergence, Gabriel boric, said that “human rights violations cannot be tolerated, no matter who the perpetrator or the victim is. This is an inescapable debate in which we cannot look to the side ”.

In that sense, from the center-left they point out that the positions that the mayor has expressed in the past could affect his presidential aspirations, something that could be deepened if he does not “take charge” of the new report.

In fact, the sector maintains that on this issue “there is no room for nuances” and that, although they are aware that the situation complicates the left in general, they must be emphatic in condemning any type of crime against humanity .

“This is a very categorical report, very clear and does not leave room for interpretation, it clearly says what happened and condemns it very clearly,” says the Socialist senator, Jose Miguel Insulza, who also argues that “this naturally causes complications on the left, because there are those who are not to condemn and are to be qualified. And this does not admit many nuances. I hope my party supports it clearly, but I’m not sure that others on the left will do that. “

Also, on how the issue could affect Jadue and the PC, the former minister assures that “it certainly complicates them a bit. But they will have to decide how to get out of those and say what they think about this. “

Despite this, the communist communal chief, in the face of La Tercera’s consultations, avoided commenting on the report released by the United Nations on the South American country and neither on the locations of center-left leaders.

Yes, in an interview with La Tercera on September 6, Jadue referred to Venezuela and argued that the Communist Party has never supported the Maduro administration, but they have questioned the alleged foreign intervention in that country.

Asked if they supported the Venezuelan government, the mayor of Recoleta stated in that conversation: “No. We are against foreign intervention in Venezuela. That is completely different. We are not available for you to do in another country what you did in Chile, when Chilean political parties received money to twist the popular will and overthrow their own government. May the problems of Venezuelans be solved by Venezuelans and we condemn the violation of human rights. But I have a fact that there are many agents of the State more convicted there than here for violation of human rights. There are hundreds of State agents, both from the Venezuelan Police and Armed Forces, convicted of the violation of human rights in the protest. How many are there here? The violation of human rights is painful in all parts of the world but they do not transform a government into a dictatorship. I condemn violence wherever it comes from ”.

In addition, he added that “The million dollar question? The Communist Party has condemned all the coups that have taken place in Latin America. Everyone. There is not a coup that has not condemned the Communist Party. Let’s say another party can say the same. Because the Christian Democrats supported the coup in Venezuela in 2002 and supported the coup in Chile in 73. Some socialist leaders and PPD supported the coup in Venezuela and also other foreign interventions. We are not available and that is international law. You have never seen me signing even a statement in favor of Lula, or in favor of the Nicaraguan government, or in favor of Cristina. None, because I do not believe in intervention, I believe that there are several of the center-left who could say so. same as me ”.