Rafael Ramírez, former president of PDVSA: "Hugo Chávez would have risen against Nicolás Maduro"

Rafael Ramírez, former president of state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and one of the trusted men of former president Hugo Chávez, has recently become a absolute criticism of Nicolás Maduro's regime.

"The Maduro government is neither a Chavan government nor a socialist. He has resorted to justice to persecute political leaders, "said the former Venezuelan Foreign Minister in a television interview.

"(Hugo) Chávez would have risen against Maduro, if he had the power, he would be imprisoned."he said when asked what the attitude of the former head of state at the moment is going through the oil nation."It has nothing to do with Maduro with Chávez", he said, while defending Chavismo saying that" the option for Venezuela "is this movement.

Ramírez was very critical of Maduro, but not the dead president and clarified that his position has to do with "a junta of patriotic government with Chavez"

The former minister, who spent 12 years with Chávez and is now out of Venezuela because he says that Maduro is after him, also spoke of the Venezuelan army: "I am very familiar with the military sector. Nowadays, it is a strong institution. The military, although they are very dissatisfied, will be attached to the constitution"He said he would rule out the possibility of a revolt at the time and said it would be difficult for Maduro to maintain that loyalty over time.

Then it was possible to criticize the opposition. "In the country, we all suffer the blackmail of a hate speech from the right. We must unite to resolve the disaster in which the country is. Juan Guaidó represents a party of the far right. They are committing the mistake of acting for an elite, "he said.

He then spoke of the current power cuts in the country and rejected Saburo's theory of sabotage. "I do not think that there was sabotage in the electricity sector. Our system is badog, it can not be sabotaged from the outside. Always Maduro alleges the theory of sabotage ".

As to whether Chavez had decided to leave Maduro as a successor, he said that the former president died "I did not think about dying. I thought I would go back to the country (after staying in Cuba) to handle everything. He never thought of dying and Nicolás was his heir. The surprise death of Chavez"

He also referred to Argentina and drew a parallel between the governments of Mauricio Macri and Maduro. "Are very similar. Not in the speech but in the effects. They look like authoritarianism and abuse of power. It's sad what's happening in the area. "

Finally, in the interview with the channel C5N He also talked about the consequences foreign military intervention in Venezuela: "This would be the worst mistake that can be made. The fact that other actors have been involved shows the weakness of the government and the opposition. I do not think there is an intervention, "he concluded.