María Corina Machado

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.

And so that anybody realizes that if you want to be part of the system, if you want to work for the state or the academy or in the military, it has nothing to do with your competence or knowledge or talent, but you have to be absolutely loyal and lower your head to the regime.

And so that anybody realizes that if you want to be part of the system, if you want to work for the state or the academy or in the military, it has nothing to do with your competence or knowledge or talent, but you have to be absolutely loyal and lower your head to the regime.

And these progressively, imagine all the resources that were coming in because you said something very important that some people did not realize.

And these progressively, imagine all the resources that were coming in because you said something very important that some people did not realize.

I mean, the barrel of oil was around 10 or 8 when Chavez arrived.

I mean, the barrel of oil was around 10 or 8 when Chavez arrived.

It went up to $150 a barrel.

It went up to $150 a barrel.

Imagine the amount of resources.

Imagine the amount of resources.

It was all the money in the world that they used effectively to buy oil.

It was all the money in the world that they used effectively to buy oil.

loyal and to lobby around the world and to support ideological groups all over the Western hemisphere and elsewhere.

loyal and to lobby around the world and to support ideological groups all over the Western hemisphere and elsewhere.