The Venezuelan regime breaks diplomatic relations with Paraguay due to a call between Santiago Peña and Edmundo González Urrutia

Days after assuming a third presidential term for which Nicolás Maduro proclaimed himself re-elected in elections reported as fraudulent the regime that controls Venezuela decided this Monday break diplomatic relations with Paraguay after President Santiago Peña supported Edmundo González Urrutia, the candidate who opposed Chavismo.

The measure was reflected in a statement from the Chavista Foreign Minister Yván Gil, who spread through Telegram and occurred after a zoom call between the Paraguayan president and the Venezuelan opposition leader who is considered the true winner of the elections that took place last year, along with Maria Corina Machado.

Peña’s support for González Urrutia was read by the Maduro regime as “a failed practice that remembers the political fantasies of the extinct Lima Group with his ridiculous adventure called Guaidó”, in mention of another opponent who claimed to have won elections against Maduro.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided, in full exercise of its sovereignty, break diplomatic relations with the Republic of Paraguay and proceed to immediate withdrawal of its diplomatic staff accredited in that country,” says the Chavista statement.

For the Venezuela of Maduro’s questioned democracy, “it is regrettable that governments like Paraguay continue subordinating its foreign policy to the interests of foreign powers, promoting agendas aimed at undermining democratic principles and the will of free peoples.

Something similar happened last July with Argentina, when Venezuela broke diplomatic relations and the headquarters in Caracas had to take charge Brazil with Maduro’s opposition politicians sheltered there.

The situation that triggered this drastic decision by Venezuela was the zoom that Santiago Peña had with González Urrutia and Machado.

“During our conversation, we analyzed the situation in Venezuela and agreed on the importance of redirect the democratic process in the country. We also highlight the need for the region to unite to work for absolute respect for the popular will and to prevent authoritarian regimes remain in force“wrote the president of Paraguay in his X account, after the virtual meeting.

And he advanced positions that irritated Maduro. “I reaffirmed my support for democracy and to the victory of González Urrutia as president, remembering that independent international analyzes of the electoral process and the vote count confirmed his broad victory in the presidential elections last July.

Peña added: “I expressed to him our commitment to continue working together with the international community, not only to recognize his victory, but to contribute to the prompt restoration of democracy in Venezuela. “Paraguay will always be a firm defender of democracy in the region and in the world.”

At the end of its statement, the Maduro regime “reiterates its commitment to the defense of democracypeace and self-determination of peoples”, an irony very far from being real.

Paraguay responded to Venezuela after the Maduro regime announced that it was breaking diplomatic relations because its president had held a meeting via zoom with González Urrutia and Corina Machado.

“The government of Paraguay recognizes Mr. Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and in that capacity with the right to assume the leadership of his nation on January 10, in accordance with the sovereign will of the people Venezuelan language expressed on July 28,” the text indicates.

Then, the Peña Government’s post “ratifies the firm and forceful support for the right of the Venezuelan people to live in democracywithin a rule of law, with absolute respect for their fundamental freedoms and guarantees”.

Finally, Paraguay “demands Ambassador Ricardo Capella and accredited diplomatic personnel leave the country in the next 48 hours.”

The Venezuelan opponent thanked US President Joe Biden this Monday for his “support” in the “fight for the democratic recovery of Venezuela” during a meeting at the White House.

“It was a long conversation in which we addressed various aspects of the bilateral relationship and of course we We appreciate the support you have given us the government of the United States in this fight for the democratic recovery of Venezuela,” declared the opponent after the meeting.

The meeting took place four days before the presidential inauguration in the Caribbean country, in which both the opponent, exiled in Spain since September, and the Chavista leader promise to take office.

When asked by a journalist about whether Biden and his government would accompany him in his attempt to return to the country for the inauguration, he answered: “He accompanies me from the heart accompanies me in the effort we are making and which is received with sympathy.”