The former president of Uruguay, José (Pepe) Mujica, expressed his views on the regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua in strong terms, concluding that "it’s no good," referring to the politics and democracy in these countries.
In a recent interview with El País, Mujica strongly criticized the power structures that, in his view, "play at democracy" without respecting its fundamental principles.
Regarding the Cuban regime, the former Uruguayan president noted that the case of Cuba is different from the other two countries mentioned, as it established the dictatorship of the proletariat and a single party 70 years ago.
"It doesn't work, that doesn't work. It doesn't work, but she defined them," she declared.
However, it was even harsher when referring to the other two authoritarian models that have persisted for decades in Latin America.
Regarding the political situation in Venezuela and Nicaragua, he stated that what bothers him the most is when these governments hold elections "and based on the results, they alter, commit fraud, or manipulate."
"It infuriates me when they pretend to practice democracy, when they hold elections, and then based on the outcome, I create a mess, I disrupt things, or I commit fraud. That makes no sense," he asserted vehemently.
The former Uruguayan president, who had connections with the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, also emphasized the difference between the two leaders. "One thing was Chávez, and another thing is Maduro," said Mujica.
With his statements, Mujica reaffirmed his critical stance towards authoritarian regimes that, in his view, do not respect democratic principles and manipulate electoral processes to their advantage.
The 91-year-old politician stated in 2019 that Nicolás Maduro had "upended chavismo" and referred to him as a dictator.
For someone who was one of the most popular leaders in the region, Venezuela is a dictatorship that punishes its people, an argument he had made years earlier when discussing that country.
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