"Today is a black day for democracy in Venezuela"

"Today is a black day for democracy in Venezuela. Today is a day in which Nicolás Maduro is going to place a tombstone over Venezuelan democracy. With those words, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Ampuero, referred to the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro's regime, which is taking place today.

The Secretary of State reaffirmed what was recently declared at the meeting of the Lima Group held in Peru. "We do not recognize this government that is going to be installed today, which is the continuity of the same Nicolás Maduro that we all know and that has caused the tragedy that also has hemispheric impact," he said. In addition, he reiterated that Chile recognizes the National Assembly as "the only truly democratic instance" in Venezuela.

He also emphasized that Chile "is going to maintain its relations at the low level that it maintains today with Venezuela and this is in line with the rest of the countries that make up the Lima Group".

Finally, the Chancellor stated that "we are convinced that the Venezuelan people will one day, soon we hope, raise that tombstone so that democracy can breathe again in Venezuela".