“Leopoldo López is a fugitive from justice, there is a lot of manipulation in the Spanish media. It is not the first time that he is involved in violent acts”, declared the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, during a press conference with international media from Miraflores Palace on Wednesday.
He clarified that the fugitive from the Venezuelan justice, Leopoldo López, currently residing in Madrid, negotiated his departure from Venezuela with the Government of Spain.
The escape agreement, which materialized on Saturday, October 24, was carried out with the mediation of the Spanish ambassador to Venezuela, Jesús Silva, who “brought Leopoldo López away” after keeping him for a year and a half as a guest at his residence. after the failed coup d’etat in 2019.
The dignitary recalled that López was the leader of an attempted coup d’etat in 2002 and the first “guarimba” (riot) of 2004 was led by him. “Leopoldo López was the leader of an attempted coup d’etat, through massive violence, in the first months of 2014. In 2002 he also led the coup against Commander Chávez on April 12, 13 and 14″, he said.
“We must remember that the Prosecutor’s Office headed by Luisa Ortega Díaz initiated an accusation for a series of crimes against the Constitution and the peace of the Republic, and Leopoldo surrendered, he negotiated his delivery”, said the President.
“López surrendered because he feared for his life after it was determined by intelligence information that another right-wing leader, Antonio Ledezma, planned to assassinate him in order to blame the government”, informed President Maduro.
He stressed that there were other assassination attempts against López in the Ramo Verde prison, announced by journalist Leopoldo Castillo from Miami and by 2017, through the dialogue boards, the right-wing leader negotiated with the Government for his party to participate in the Assembly National Constituent, as revealed the president.
The National President recalled that López was given the benefit of a house imprisonment, but on April 30, 2019 he attempted a coup d’etat, and when he failed he tried to go to the Chilean embassy, but they did not welcome him.
“In the end, Leopoldo López, who negotiated to go to Spain, went away politically defeated by the revolutionary and patriotic forces of Venezuela”, said the dignitary.
López was sentenced for leading the plan called “La Salida” (The Exit) in 2014, which caused 43 deaths and 600 injuries.
The dignitary advocated for the Venezuelan justice “to succeed once again in bringing to jail Leopoldo López, responsible for the seditious actions of the so-called “La Salida” plan, executed in 2014, which caused the death of more than 40 people and hundreds of wounded”. “I hope that one day justice will be made”, he stressed.
