Ros-Lehtinen: Nicolas Maduro is Becoming Worse Than Chavez

Today could be a “pivotal moment for the future of Venezuela” anticipated Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Tuesday’s Secure Freedom Radio, speaking about the tens of thousands of students marching in protest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s regime. At the time of recording, Maduro had issued an arrest warrant for popular opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who promised to lead the anti-government demonstration before surrendering to police.

Deceased Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez was known for his heavy handedness against political opponents, but Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) cautioned that his successor, Maduro, is “ruling with an even tougher fist,” and she expressed her displeasure that the United States has not stood more firmly opposed to his government.

“I handed to Secretary of State John Kerry during one of his appearances before a foreign affairs committee, proof of electoral fraud [in Venezuela], but of course the United… did nothing…. We have a sort of ‘let’s ignore this guy and maybe the problem will go away.'”

Ros-Lehtinen also warned of the progress Iran and North Korea are making into Latin and Central America, particularly through alliances with the ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas) countries. As proof, she put forward the example of purported Iranian consulates in the region.

“Now, you’ve got to think, what are the consulates for? Usually it’s to do passport service and visas. Well, I can’t see a huge number of Latin Americans travelling to Iran. Obviously those are make-believe embassies and consulates that are really operations for espionage.”

Ros-Lehtinen urged Americans to see Iran, as well as North Korea, as threats that are close-to-home, and not as distant as they may seem.

“For those folks who think ‘Iran is over there in some other part of the world, and South America is another part of the world—no, no, no. South America is right here and Iran is right here with them.”