A setback for Nicolás Maduro that highlights his lack of words – 13/02/2019

Those who accuse Pope Francisco of having adopted a position of weakness before the Chavez regime will say that the seriousness of the crisis in Venezuela left without space to continue to exercise a conciliatory attitude – Animated by an alleged populist ideology – which ends up favoring the continuity of the government led by Nicolás Maduro.

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Those who defend the position of the pontiff will say that he does nothing but follow the Vatican diplomacy manual to move the cards carefully, according to the changing situation, Retain as a last resortbecause the central objective is not to fly over the bridges, but to reach the end of the Calvary of Venezuelans.

The truth is that the Pope's letter of response to Maduro before the new request for "mediation" that took place yesterday was a serious setback for Hugo Chávez's successor. That is, Francisco would have told him he did not want to be used by him and his followers anymore. In 2016, a management of the facilitation of the dialogue led by the Vatican ended in a resounding failure, mainly due to the partial non-compliance of the regime with the agreements concluded.

"Unfortunately, not all initiatives (not just management) have been interrupted because what was agreed at the meetings was not followed by concrete actions to conclude agreements, "said the pope.

In addition to prolonging the terrible hardships of the Venezuelan people, the Vatican felt a great frustration at the intervention that took place from October 30 to December 6. UNASUR and former Presidents José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Leonel Fernández (Dominican Republic) and Martín Torrijos (Panama) also participated.

While misunderstandings – everything must be said – of the counterpart – members of the opposition coalition based at the Table of Democratic Unity – have not helped as he has made in the pope's era in front of reporters on a return flight from Africa, with which was worth the discontent of the opposition leaders.

If not, this failure culminated in a hard letter from the Vatican Secretary of StateCardinal Pietro Parolin in Maduro for the violation of four essential points: urgent measures to address the shortage of food and medicine, establishment of a free and democratic election calendar, restitution of the powers of l & # 39; 39, National Assembly and release of political prisoners.

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Shortly after, this same letter provoked a harsh reaction of the Chavez regime against the cardinal. And even an outdated attempt to separate the attitude of Parolin with the supposedly more sympathetic position of the pope.

In any case, a new and recent administration of the pontiff – which he himself had proposed on the return of Panama – lacked fate if the Venezuelan regime did not leave aside its intransigence. The highest Catholic authority in Venezuela, Cardinal Baltazar Porras, head of the Archdiocese of Caracas, said a few days later with all the letters: he considered it "impracticable" because Maduro appealed to this type of appeal when "we see it with the neck water" as now by the great international pressure and economic headquarters. In other words, any dialogue between the parties in Venezuela should lead to free elections as soon as possible. The Pope says in his letter: a "peaceful and institutional" solution.

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It is not a minor fact that, in his letter, Francisco does not address Maduro as "Mr. President".but as "the most excellent gentleman". This leaves the controversy – and perhaps appeases critics for lack of definition – about his position on the institutional conflict around the proclamation of Juan Guaidó as acting president.

However, it should be noted that the Vatican is engaged in reserved negotiations with other diplomatic bodies for the exit of Maduro. Like two years ago, when he intervened in Havana to badimilate it. But the truth is that he does not want to play the game to the chavist leader with another failed mediation.