Gleisi counters Ratinho Jr. and says the opposition is trying to take advantage of the Venezuelan crisis

Minister Gleisi Hoffmann, from the Secretariat of Institutional Relations (SRI), refuted a statement by the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Jr. (PSD), about the attacks by the United States on Venezuela this Saturday and stated that the opposition in Brazil is trying to take advantage of the crisis.

The minister stated that members of the opposition who celebrated the attacks did not do so in the name of defending democracy and said that this stance reflects the desire of these politicians “for foreign intervention in Brazil”.

The Donald Trump government carried out attacks in Venezuela this Saturday and captured Chavista leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Speaking to the press this afternoon, the American said that the US will manage Venezuela until an “appropriate transition”, without giving a deadline for this, in addition to stating that the country will control Venezuelan oil reserves.

The American action was celebrated by right-wing governors, including Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil-GO), Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos-SP) and Ratinho. The third stated in a publication on the networks that Trump’s action was “brilliant”. The governor of Paraná tried not to align himself with Trump during the tariffs last year, but this time, he praised the American president’s stance.

“I want to congratulate President Trump for his brilliant decision to free the people of Venezuela, a people who had been oppressed for decades by undemocratic tyrants. Long live freedom! Long live democracy! Long live Venezuela!”, wrote Ratinho Jr.

Members of Lula’s government and allies, in turn, criticized the attacks, stating that it was necessary to respect the sovereignty of countries and warning of violations of international law. Gleisi directly responded to Ratinho, saying that the “euphoria” of the governor and “other Bolsonarists” with the acts “has nothing to do with defending democracy”.

“On the contrary, it reflects the desire for foreign intervention in Brazil, against our democracy. It was the project of the traitor Eduardo Bolsonaro, with the Magnitsky tariff and sanctions, which failed and was repudiated by Brazilian society. It is simply shameful that the far-right opposition tries to take advantage of the Venezuelan crisis in this way, which threatens the stability of the entire continent”, wrote the minister in a publication on the networks.

Minister Guilherme Boulos, from the General Secretariat of the Presidency, also raised the tone, stating that the American attack “is the most serious imperialist action we have ever experienced” and defended Latin American unity in support of Venezuela.

“Does anyone think Trump is worried about democracy? He wants oil. What’s more: he uses Venezuela as a precedent for a new Monroe Doctrine that threatens all of Latin America. Not even in the Cold War was there direct US military action on our continent. Even more so with the kidnapping of a head of state. This is a time for Latin American unity in total support for the people of Venezuela and in rejection of Donald Trump’s criminal government!”, wrote Boulos.

The President of the Republic, in turn, adopted a more sober tone to comment on the action, despite having condemned the attacks. In a statement on the networks, the head of the Executive said that the bombings and the capture of Maduro (although without naming him by name) “cross an unacceptable line”.

“These acts represent a very serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community,” Lula wrote.