Tensions Rise as Spain Recalls Ambassador to Venezuela

Caracas, April 23, 2015 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez criticized Spain yesterday, accusing the Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy of having “crossed the line” in failing to show respect for the Bolivarian nation.

“The government of Spain has crossed in the line by failing to respect Venezuela, its government and its people,” the top diplomat declared via her Twitter account.

“Spain ignores its own history,” she added, forgetting that Venezuela will not “tolerate the interference of an already defeated empire.”

The remarks came in response to Madrid’s decision to recall its ambassador for consultations on Wednesday, which in turn followed fresh criticisms of the Spanish government by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday.

Speaking on his weekly television program, the socialist leader accused his Spanish counterpart of interfering in Venezuelan affairs in a bid to distract from Spain’s extensive internal problems, including widespread corruption and 25% unemployment.

“Rajoy is intending to cover up the internal problems of Spain by talking badly about the achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution.”

The Venezuelan head of state also condemned what he described as Madrid’s role in “supporting terrorism” and other efforts to “overthrow the government”, remembering that Spain under Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar was the only European country that recognized the US-backed Carmona regime installed after the temporary 2002 ouster of then President Hugo Chavez.

On Wednesday, the Venezuelan National Assembly approved a measure declaring Spanish ex-president Felipe Gonzalez persona non grata in the country after it was announced that the latter would be arriving in May to join the legal team of jailed opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez.

The legislative body issued a statement denominating Gonzalez’s participation a “problem of sovereignty”. The former Spanish leader has long maintained ties with the Venezuelan right.

Tensions between the two nations have heightened since Spain’s parliament approved a resolution on April 14 calling for the release of far right Venezuelan opposition leaders currently facing criminal proceedings for their role in anti-government violence.

The measure was spearheaded by the ruling Popular Party (PP), which is currently embroiled in high-level corruption investigations and is widely projected to lose the upcoming elections later this year.

In response, President Maduro summoned the Spanish ambassador and ordered his diplomatic team to prepare an adequate response to the act of “aggression”.