Andrew Cawthorne of Reuters reported that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro “referred several times” to Luis Vicente Leon of Datanalisis, an opposition-aligned polling firm, as “an important opinion-former in Venezuela.”
Maduro actually referred to Luis Vicente Leon as an opposition leader – as a person who “defends capitalism” – but who is mature and reasonable enough to be debated – unlike people who ask if Maduro brought back milk from his travels abroad. Those of you who read Spanish can verify that here.
Maduro was not citing Luis Vicente Leon as an ally or as authoritative source on the Venezuelan economy as readers could easily be misled into concluding from this article.
UPDATE
A reader challenged me (is that allowed?) about the accuracy of writing above that “Maduro actually referred to Luis Vicente Leon as an opposition leader”. I think it is accurate. What follows is my translation of the relevant excerpt from Maduro’s speech. Judge for yourselves:
I believe in working together. There are people out there who tell me our model must change. I replied to Luis Vicente Leon whom I respect. He is an opinion leader. I would like to respond to one of the political leaders of the opposition but the things they write…How could I respond to them? Truly I tell you, and I know you feel the same as me even if you can’t say it, but some political leaders of the opposition on Twitter are an embarrassment. I come back from this tour looking for a new consensus to defend the market and price of oil and one of them asks me if I brought back milk. It’s a matter of seriousness, of maturity. I know you feel the same. That is why I respond to an opinion leader like Luis Vicente Leon – so that I can debate with someone with your ideas and who defends capitalism.
It’s alright that Luis Vicente Leo defends capitalism. We respect him. In Venezuela there is room for all of us. I replied to him let’s change of the model of a just distribution of wealth and he responded “I am not proposing that you change the socialist model”. His response surprised me. I am proposing we change the model of distribution and commercialization of the Venezuelan economy because, for almost two years as president, economic war has been waged against the country in an effort to oust me. It has been waged mainly by mafias within the system of distribution and commercialization of essential products.
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