Significance: Chile was the first country in South America to respond to López’s 10 September conviction to nearly 14 years in prison for inciting protests against the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro. Two days afterwards, Chile’s foreign ministry released a statement which gave the impression of tiptoeing on eggshells. It expressed Chile’s “respect” for Venezuela’s justice system, while adding that “at the same time we hope that judicial guarantees of due process are observed”. While this was at most tepid criticism, Venezuela’s foreign ministry issued a ferocious response, perhaps hoping to deter any other nations in the region from speaking out. Paraguay has since echoed Chile’s comments about due process but silence has reigned elsewhere.
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