18 IDEA ex-presidents defend Macri, denounce “criminalization of democratic leaderships”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Eighteen former Ibero-American presidents, members of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA), on Tuesday (27) expressed their support for Mauricio Macri in the case investigating if the ex-head of state of Argentina that alleges he smuggled war material to Bolivia to repress the November 2019 social protests that erupted in the Andean country when a political crisis was triggered by the ousting of Evo Morales from power and the inauguration of Jeanine Áñez.

In this respect, they denounced the “criminalization of democratic leadership” in the region.

Through a communiqué, they commented on the events in Bolivia, “After a constitutional succession process endorsed and recognized by the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the European Union, China and Russia, following the resignation of then president Evo Morales, the new authorities reverse the narrative, accuse the independent media, persecute those who prevented the said incident from jeopardizing Bolivia’s democratic viability, and now prosecute those who ensured the transition.”

The 18 former presidents who signed the communiqué, entitled “Declaration on the criminalization of democratic leaderships,” assured that “an attempt is being made to manipulate” the Bolivian case in order to persecute Macri.

According to the statement, Argentina’s “anti-democratic leftist adversaries” have targeted the ex-president, which is why legal proceedings have been brought against him “without any real grounds or because of blatantly political differences.”

“Under the leadership of the current Argentine ruler, the hybrid and legal war designed by the anti-democratic far left in the Americas acquires its full significance; therefore, it is imperative to call upon the Administration of Justice, judges and prosecutors not to forget that the fate of democratic freedoms ultimately rests in their hands,” they said.

In the document they expressed their concern about “the process of abduction of the democratic discourse by the radical anti-democratic leftists that persist” throughout the region. According to them, this sector’s goal is “to empty democracy of its essential elements, using them to achieve power and sustain it in opposition to the alternation in its exercise and thus, through constitutional means, dismantle the rule of law and the very democratic human rights guarantees.”

This action involves a “hybrid war or legal war” as part of lawfare, according to IDEA members, implemented by the anti-democratic left, whose purpose is “to criminalize the opposition that genuinely defends the values of democracy and freedom.”

As an example, they cited the cases of repression in Central America: “In Cuba, 700 citizens have been violently arrested and prosecuted for protests demanding freedom on July 11, while in Nicaragua, 5 presidential hopefuls for the November elections have been arrested and prosecuted, accused of threatening sovereignty for ‘inciting foreign interference in internal affairs and calling for military interventions,’ including journalists.”

They also referred to Venezuela: “After the simulation of another attempt at dialogue amidst repression and violence that becomes widespread in the context of a severe humanitarian crisis caused by its regime, it chooses to persecute interim President Juan Guaidó and imprison deputy Freddy Guevara, one of the leaders promoting the aforementioned dialogue as part of a National Salvation Agreement.”

“IDEA will continue to support truth and condemn the regimes of lies, as this is the fundamental ethical value of democracy, of the rule of law and for the effective enforcement of human rights,” ends the letter signed by former presidents and heads of state of Costa Rica, Spain, Panama, Mexico, El Salvador, Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia.

Investigation advances

The case investigating if Macri’s government smuggled war material to Bolivia continues to gather evidence; while judge Javier López Biscayart analyzes the documents he requested last week, prosecutor Claudio Navas Rial increased the charges in the new complaint filed last week.

The ex-president – currently living in Europe – was represented in the case by attorney Pablo Lanusse – who also advises him in other criminal cases in which he is accused – and recently, as disclosed by sources involved in the case, requested the suspension of the internal investigation being conducted by the Gendarmería by order of president Alberto Fernández, in order to gather information on the parties that traveled to Bolivia with the denounced armament.

Lanusse argued that the preliminary investigation should be suspended so that the defense could review the evidence being produced with the report. According to sources the move failed, as Judge López Biscayart denied the request. The defense is expected to appeal the decision before the Economic Criminal Court.

Source: Infobae

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