María Corina Machado

You get into power through elections, and then from within, you start undermining every single...

You get into power through elections, and then from within, you start undermining every single...

democratic institution.

democratic institution.

You go against the media.

You go against the media.

You control the media.

You control the media.

And you can see this pattern in Venezuela, how Chávez started pressing or buying space and publicity and then buying the whole media outlets.

And you can see this pattern in Venezuela, how Chávez started pressing or buying space and publicity and then buying the whole media outlets.

and through censorship and changing the laws in order to be very, very risky to speak out.

and through censorship and changing the laws in order to be very, very risky to speak out.

And then it went also with the private sector in every single area of production.

And then it went also with the private sector in every single area of production.

And of course, it took the military as well.

And of course, it took the military as well.

I mean, all those that were the most competent individuals, they were put aside, and only those that were absolutely loyal to the regime were ascended.

I mean, all those that were the most competent individuals, they were put aside, and only those that were absolutely loyal to the regime were ascended.

So this is to destroy merit.

So this is to destroy merit.