Lula: Venezuela "does not lack democracy"
{{date|November 18, 2007}}
[[Image:Lula Chavez Cupula nov092007.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hugo Chávez and Lula walk to the official photo shoot of the 17th Ibero-American Summit (Valter Campanato / ABr).]]

In statements to the press on November 14, the president of [[Brazil]], [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]], defended the President of [[Venezuela]], [[Hugo Chávez]], and minimized the incident between him and the {{w|Spanish monarchy|King of Spain}}, {{w|Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I}} during the 17th {{w|Ibero-American Summit}} in [[Chile]].

According to {{w|Agência Brasil|Brazil Agency}}, Lula said after meeting with the president of the [[Guiné-Bissau]]: "There is little difference in opinion between King Juan Carlos and Chavez. There are many other differences between heads of State. Divergence is part of a democratic meeting."

The Brazilian President stressed that "Venezuela is a [[democracy|democratic]] country" and compared it with the [[United Kingdom]]: "You can criticize Chavez for anything but lack of democracy in Venezuela. In Venezuela, there were three referendums,  three [[elections]], four {{wikt|plebiscite|plebiscites|anchor=Noun}}... Why did nobody lament when [[Margaret Thatcher]] remained in power for so many years? It's continuity, there is nothing different. Only the system is slightly different, the system of presidential regime to ''{{wikt|parlamentaristaan}}''. But what matters is not the system, but the exercise of power."

{{haveyoursay}}

== Related news ==

*{{Wikinews|title=King of Spain tells Hugo Chavez to 'shut up' during summit|date=November 12, 2007}}

== Sources ==

{{Translated Wikinews|title=Lula dice que en Venezuela "no falta democracia"|wiki=es|language=Spanish}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2007/11/14/materia.2007-11-14.6634767750/view
|title  = Lula diz que não houve exaggerate not bate-boca between Chavez eo rei Juan Carlos 
|author = Carolina Pimentel
|pub    = Agência Brazil
|date   = November 14, 2007
}} 
*{{source
|url    = http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Politica/0,,MUL181137-5601,00.html
|title  = Lula defende democracy venezuelana
|author = Tiago Pariz author
|pub    = O Globo
|date   = November 14, 2007
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u345701.shtml
|title  = Lula Chavez diz que não we can be criticized for lack of democracy
|author = Renata Giraldi
|pub    = Folha de S. Paulo
|date   = November 14, 2007
}}

{{publish}}
{{archive}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]] 
[[Category:Venezuela]] 
[[Category:Brazil]] 
[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Hugo Chávez]]
[[Category:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]]
[[Category:Democracy]]

[[de:Lula sagt, dass es in Venezuela „nicht an Demokratie fehlt“]]
[[es:Lula dice que en Venezuela "no falta democracia"]]
[[it:Lula: «Al Venezuela non manca la democrazia»]]
[[pl:Lula da Silva: Wenezuelska demokracja nie jest zagrożona]]
[[pt:Lula diz que na Venezuela "não falta democracia"]]
Hugo Chávez and Lula walk to the official photo shoot of the 17th Ibero-American Summit (Valter Campanato / ABr).

In statements to the press on November 14, the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, defended the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, and minimized the incident between him and the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I during the 17th  in Chile.

According to Brazil Agency, Lula said after meeting with the president of the Guiné-Bissau: "There is little difference in opinion between King Juan Carlos and Chavez. There are many other differences between heads of State. Divergence is part of a democratic meeting."

The Brazilian President stressed that "Venezuela is a democratic country" and compared it with the United Kingdom: "You can criticize Chavez for anything but lack of democracy in Venezuela. In Venezuela, there were three referendums,  three elections, four ... Why did nobody lament when Margaret Thatcher remained in power for so many years? It's continuity, there is nothing different. Only the system is slightly different, the system of presidential regime to . But what matters is not the system, but the exercise of power."

de:Lula sagt, dass es in Venezuela „nicht an Demokratie fehlt“
es:Lula dice que en Venezuela "no falta democracia"
it:Lula: «Al Venezuela non manca la democrazia»
pl:Lula da Silva: Wenezuelska demokracja nie jest zagrożona
Lula diz que na Venezuela "não falta democracia"
Politics and conflicts Venezuela Brazil South America Hugo Chávez Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Democracy