Versión Español
EspañolAfter the deaths of many people during protests in Venezuela (see here), Mauricio Macri, mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, decided to confront the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. He published a letter on his Facebook page in February condemning the situation.
Based on his letter, there is little doubt that Macri and Maduro see things a little differently.
“Where you see enemies that want to kill, I see angry Venezuelans who demand changes to their government. Where you see conspiracy, I see Génesis Carmona carried away on a motorcycle, shot and dying at age 22,” his letter summarized.
Macri also strayed from the response of the national government of Argentina, led by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who had expressed complete support for the Bolivarian regime in Venezuela. He urged Maduro not to confuse the government of Argentina with the Argentinean people, just “as we do not confuse you with the Venezuelan people.”
On the other hand, Kirchner has defended the legitimacy of Maduro, saying that “Respect for democracy is respect for life. If it was not your turn to win in this election, there will be opportunity in the next election. This is the way elections are: they are won, or they are lost. But what you cannot do, having lost an election, is put the country on edge — a region only recently declared a region of peace.”
In closing, Macri’s letter asked for the release of opposition leader Leopoldo López and all other political prisoners.
I have to wonder, however, was on account of ideological conviction or political convenience? Macri is beginning to build his political strategy with an eye on the presidential elections in 2015, and he aims to be the anti-Kirchner candidate. As loud as his words are, his actions will speak for him.
We must consider his similarities to the Peronista government of Cristina Kirchner. Among the many, a few include tax increases (and creating new ones), policies of state paternalism, the personalization of politics, lack of internal democracy within the party, and the use of public funds for political purposes.
The Same Ones. If they look the same, dress the same, and are surrounded by the same … They are the same. – Mauricio Macri
I agree, Macri. It couldn’t have been said better.
I think it’s quite clear now what the real reason was behind his strong words for Maduro.
