Leopoldo López to Telemundo: "Our mistake was to create expectations of change in the short term"

By Valentina López Maris with an interview by Carlos Marlasca

Leopoldo López has qualified his speech.

Unlike his previous messages in which he fervently pointed out the need to “leave” the Chavista regime in Venezuela in a resounding and overwhelming way, he now admits that a change of government in Venezuela will involve accepting the possibility that Chavismo - currently headed by Nicolás Maduro - 

The Venezuelan opposition leader, recently arrived in Madrid after spending almost seven years in prison (four arrested in a military prison, a year and a half under house arrest and another year and a half locked in the Spanish embassy in Caracas), said in

For this, for the first time, it clearly opens the window for Chavismo to collaborate with that possibility.

"Our approach is to promote so that an electoral process can take place," he highlights and does not rule out an eventual participation of the current president, Nicolás Maduro.

"That is part of what remains to be seen, what would be the scheme by which elections are held.

”.

“Obviously, those who help to reach that transition will be part of a transition process and that is why this is a very clear message to military, police, and political actors that are part of the structure of the dictatorship, who know that they can contribute. with the process of change, "he says.

[The UN accuses the Maduro regime of crimes against humanity and urges the International Criminal Court to act]

• "I didn't want to leave Venezuela"

No more arriving in Madrid, a little more than a week ago, López surprised with his first admission that it would be almost impossible to think about a possibility of political change in Venezuela without taking into account the Chavismo currently in power.

However, he is quick to point out in the interview with Noticias Telemundo that this option is only possible for those who actively promote an option for change and that the participation of the opposition in the elections that the Maduro regime has called for this 6 is not considered. from December.

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He says being back with his wife and children makes him very happy, although he is "heartbroken," he says.

"I did not want to leave Venezuela, but like many Venezuelans I have had to leave the country due to circumstances."

• Is it possible that there is a Venezuelan government abroad?

It is not raised, says López.

"The interim president is Juan Guaidó, who is still in Venezuela." 

• What will happen in January in Venezuela?

“The National Assembly (headed by Juan Guaidó) will continue, that is the approach that is being promoted, that in January there is an institutional continuity of the Assembly.

They are working on what will be the format within our Constitution that will allow an extension of the mandate ”.

• Does not rule out an intervention if Venezuelans participate

Just as he makes that tactical statement about the electoral option, López also does not rule out that some foreign intervention could be a catalyst for a political transition.

He warns, however, that this action must include Venezuelan participation.

"The proposal is that there can be an articulation between Venezuelans with other countries, when the stage arrives, in order to achieve political change in Venezuela (...) there are precedents in the world and there is a doctrine of responsibility to protect."

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López leaves the country and heads to Spain

Oct. 24, 202001: 25

In that sense, López, who was also mayor of the populous capital city of Chacao, in Caracas, feels confident of having the support of the United States, both Republicans and Democrats. 

Among his calculations, he

to depose Maduro.

On the triumph of Joe Biden, the new president-elect, he says: "I have no doubt that the Democrats as well as the Republicans will continue to accompany the cause for the freedom of Venezuela. I do not see any scenario of recognition of the dictator, who has been charged by the US justice system, but in addition to that, he has been singled out by the UN for committing crimes against humanity. "

• "Part of a process"

López also did not calculate on April 30 of last year that his untimely exit - and for one day - from house arrest calling on the country's military to depose the regime would be a failure.

He sees it as "part of a process".

But he recognizes that the proclamation of Juan Guaidó as interim president and the turbulent months in which they believed in the next departure of Maduro, the opposition was triumphalist.

“The main mistake we could have made was overly optimistic management of expectations.

 Expectations of change were created that were inflated for the Venezuelan people and also for the international community and that today, obviously, since the dictator's departure has not materialized, this has generated frustration ”, he said.