Envoy Says: Washington Post Misrepresenting Venezuela, A Country Committed To Peace

Washington Post elite dismissed Maduro, elected president, shown here at Hostos College, as “economically illiterate former bus driver”

[Commentary]

The Sept. 21 Washington Post' editorial “Persecuted in Venezuela" opposing Venezuela’s bid for a non­permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, distorted reality by accusing authorities of persecuting political prisoners and jailing Leopoldo López for his role in instigating “peaceful” protests this year.

The protests demanding the extra­constitutional removal of the government led to more than 40 deaths, including individuals killed trying to remove protesters’ barricades.

The “irresistible pressure for change” expected by the editorial never came because the majority of Venezuelans resolve political differences through elections and direct democratic participation, not violence.

The Post’s scare-mongering around Venezuela’s candidacy harkened to the Cold War mind-set that animated a similar campaign in 2006. Venezuela is not an advocate for other countries at the United Nations: It is a determined advocate for peace, as demonstrated by its commitment to regional stability and strong support for the Colombian peace process.

The Post stated that Venezuela may be on the verge of suffering “a catastrophic economic collapse” and supported such a claim by offensively referring to our head of state as an “economically illiterate former bus driver.”

Venezuelans are proud to belong to a democracy that allows former blue-collar workers to rise to the top.

Maximilien Sánchez Arveláiz is chargé d’affaires at Venezuela’s U.S. Embassy.