Venezuela President Slams Spanish Interference in Domestic Affairs

Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday that his government may take measures against Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government, which urged Caracas to release right-wing opposition leaders.

The violence left 43 dead, hundreds injured, and many deprived of basic human rights to education and health, with roads, schools, and hospitals blocked by violent opposition sectors around the country.

Maduro said the Spanish parliament should worry about their country’s own issues like corruption and record-high unemployment of nearly 25 percent. “There is a constant attack on Venezuela from Madrid that only seeks to spread fear and hate towards our socialist government,” Maduro stated in his weekly TV program.

Maduro’s criticism follows a recent vote by members of the Spanish parliament urging the Venezuelan government to free opposition leaders, including the mayor of the Caracas Metropolitan district Antonio Ledezma, former mayor of the Caracas Chacao municipality Leopoldo Lopez, and former mayor of San Cristobal city Daniel Ceballos.

During his remarks, Maduro also ordered Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to assess this aggression by the Spanish government and prepare adequate diplomatic responses.

The vote was backed by the ruling Popular Party (PP), which is currently undergoing an high-profile investigation in Spain over corruption and money laundering charges. In response to Maduro’s comments, Spain’s foreign affairs ministry has summoned Venezuela’s ambassador in Madrid, Mario Isea, in order to seek clarification regarding the statements made by President Nicolas Maduro.