Spain slams Venezuela’s Machado for ‘ideological’ visit, far-right meetings

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Monday criticized Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, saying she has acted as an “ideological leader” during her visit to Spain.

“She has chosen to act as an ideological leader and to meet only with one part of the political spectrum, with the Spanish far right, instead of as a representative of the Venezuelan people,” Albares told public broadcaster RNE.

Machado met with conservative Popular Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijóo, far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal and Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, but declined to meet with anyone from the Spanish government, saying it was not “convenient” following a summit Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hosted with progressive leaders in Barcelona.

Machado won last year’s Nobel Peace Prize and later gave it to US President Donald Trump.

Albares said the Spanish government had offered to meet Machado “at any level” and revealed that she had previously requested refuge at Spain’s embassy in Caracas.

“I personally told her there would be no problem,” he said, adding that the offer ultimately was not used.

He described Machado’s criticism of the Spanish government as “completely unjustified,” arguing that Spain has been among the countries that has done the most to support Venezuelans.

Albares also condemned racist chants directed at Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during a gathering of Machado supporters in Madrid, where a performer led chants calling her a monkey.

“When Puerta del Sol is used for racist slogans, that has no place in Spain,” he said.

After the rally, the Venezuelan embassy in Spain issued an apology.

Spain hosts a large Venezuelan diaspora and has granted protection to several opposition figures in recent years, including Leopoldo Lopez and Edmundo Gonzalez.