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Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño said that the steps taken by the Venezuelan government to confront hoarding and scarcities are “aboslutely legitimate” in light of the “economic war” being waged in the country.
“That Venezuela takes determined decisions to protect its economy and its citizens, is absolutely legitimate,” Patiño said to Ecuadorean television station Teleamazonas Wednesday.
Patiño referred to the “economic war” being waged by the Venezuelan and international right wing with the aim of destabilizing the democratically-elected government of President Nicolas Maduro, to which Maduro's officials have responded with “heavy” decisions.
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“It is similar to what happened with Chile and (Salvador) Allende,” said Patiño, in reference to the political and economic climate created before the overthrow of the Socialist Chilean president in a 1973 military coup.
The minister went on to explain that various sectors were interested in taking over Venezuela's oil reserves – the largest in the world - and therefore “it interests them to take that country like many others, that is the reality of the history of humanity.”
To combat the “economic war,” President Maduro mobilized the armed forces to guarantee the distribution of food. The government has also recently aken over some food and medicine vendors due to the deliberate hoarding of products to create shortages and public discontent.
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