Newly elected conservative president of Chile José Antonio Kast stated on Tuesday that he would support efforts to end the dictatorship of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, reports LETA citing AFP.
During a visit to Argentina — his first foreign trip after winning the second round of the presidential elections — Kast stated that he supports "any development of events" that leads to the end of Maduro's rule.
During his election campaign, Kast promised to deport over 300,000 illegal immigrants, close Chile's northern border, crack down on record-high crime rates, and revive the stagnant economy.
His victory marked another success for the right in Latin America following wins in elections in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras, and El Salvador. It also expands the support base for former U.S. President Donald Trump in the region at a time when Trump is considering strikes on Venezuelan territory.
During his visit to Buenos Aires on Tuesday, Kast emphasized that Chile would not intervene in Venezuela's affairs on its own.
"If someone decides to do that, it is clear that it will solve a huge problem for us, all of Latin America, all of South America, and even for European countries," he stated.
He accused the leftist leader Maduro, whom he called a "narco-dictator," of the economic crisis and mass emigration from Venezuela.
Since 2014, around seven million citizens have left Venezuela, fleeing the severe economic and political crisis under Maduro's authoritarian rule.
"Solving this (Venezuelan) problem is not our duty, but whoever does it will have our support," Kast said.
Before the elections, Kast urged illegal Venezuelan migrants in Chile to "self-deport," otherwise they would be expelled after he takes office as president in March.
Hundreds of migrants trying to return from Chile to Venezuela in November were blocked at the border with Peru, which refused to let them into the country.
Kast proposed creating a "humanitarian corridor" through South America so that Venezuelans and other migrants could return home.
Maduro reacted sharply to Kast's statements about Venezuela. On Monday, he compared Kast to Adolf Hitler and warned: "Be careful if you touch even a hair on the head of any Venezuelan."
With his statement about Hitler, Maduro hinted at Kast's father, who was born in Germany, was a member of the Nazi party, and served in the army during World War II. Kast himself claims that his father was conscripted and did not support the Nazis.
Leave a comment