El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele criticized Nicolás Maduro for rejecting a prisoner swap proposal involving Venezuelan deportees. Bukele aims to exchange these individuals for Venezuelan political prisoners but faces demands from Maduro for their immediate release. The tensions between the two leaders highlight their opposing political ideologies and ongoing diplomatic conflicts.
El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, publicly criticized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for rejecting a proposed prisoner swap. This exchange would involve deported Venezuelans from the United States currently held in El Salvador being traded for what Bukele describes as political prisoners in Venezuela.
Maduro has insisted on the immediate release of 250 Venezuelans detained in an El Salvador mega-prison designed for gang members. During his televised address, he accused Bukele of violating fundamental rights and called for an unconditional release order for the deportees, rather than facilitating an exchange.
Bukele’s response on social media chided Maduro, questioning whether the Venezuelan leader had not previously stated his commitment to doing “whatever it takes” for the release of those detainees. This exchange reflects the ongoing tensions between the two leaders, characterized by their starkly contrasting political ideologies.
Among the individuals Bukele seeks to include in the swap are the son-in-law of former Venezuelan presidential candidate Edmundo González, various political leaders seeking refuge in the Argentine Embassy, and 50 detained citizens from countries around the globe. Bukele’s initial proposal also mentioned the mother of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, currently restricted by police.
Maduro’s government reacted strongly to the proposal, demanding a comprehensive list of all Venezuelans detained in El Salvador, along with health updates on these individuals. Bukele reiterated his call for the swap via social media, referencing a recent prisoner exchange between Venezuela and the Biden administration concerning a Maduro associate.
In summary, the ongoing feud between Presidents Bukele and Maduro has taken a significant turn with Bukele’s proposed prisoner swap, which Maduro has rejected. Bukele’s efforts aim to negotiate the release of both Venezuelan deportees and political prisoners, yet he faces resistance from Maduro’s government. The clash showcases both leaders’ diverging political landscapes and the complexities of international diplomatic negotiations regarding human rights and prisoner treatment.
Original Source: apnews.com
