The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, celebrated the outcome of the popular referendum in Ecuador, which rejected the installation of US military bases on its territory, calling it a «victory of the Ecuadorian people» and for the entire Latin American and Caribbean region.
During the 97th episode of his «Con Maduro+” television program, the head of state affirmed that the «NO» vote sends a powerful message against colonialism and reaffirms the sovereignty of nations: «Therefore it has been a great victory, a great message that strengthens what Latin America and the Caribbean truly is. 200 years later, we continue along the paths of sovereignty and peace, each of us building our own model,» he stated.
The Venezuelan president specifically addressed the rejection of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s plans, asserting that this popular victory was felt «sovereignly and profoundly» within the ranks of the Ecuadorian army. «I send my greetings to the Ecuadorian military… The forces of that sisterly nation will one day unite with its people, and the original dream of the great patriots will be reborn,» he added.
In the «Digital Zone» segment of his program, President Maduro made a pun on his Ecuadorian counterpart’s surname, urging the audience to look up the meaning of «boa» and relating it to what, in his opinion, Noboa represents for Ecuador. «He is a demon disguised as a boa, and the Ecuadorian people told him, with 60% of the vote, ‘No-boa, you’re not going, No-boa,'» he declared.
He also questioned the legitimacy of Noboa’s election, calling him a «fraudulent president» and asserting that the referendum result proved the «tremendous fraud» in the presidential elections.
Finally, President Maduro called on the region’s progressive forces to continue advancing in the defense of sovereignty. «I call on the progressive forces of Latin America to advance with Christ the Redeemer, liberating Latin America from all these threats, and I am certain that the people of Ecuador must be happy, reawakening their dreams, because the time for Ecuador’s dreams will come again,» he concluded.