A few hours before being arrested for the second time, opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa He gave an interview in which he addressed central issues of the Venezuelan political debate, such as national reconciliation, fear in contexts of persecution and the possibility of a democratic transition.
The conversation, held on February 8 by the media The Great Villagewas marked by a reflective tone and by the defense of a political understanding based—in his words—on truth and justice.
During the exchangeGuanipa insisted that the reconciliation promoted by the ruling party would only be viable if it is based on the recognition of recent events in the country. In his opinion, any dialogue process requires openly discussing institutional responsibilities and political decisions that have generated fractures.
“I agree with reconciliation, but with truth and justice ahead. We must have understanding processes where we can say things as they are, for example, that Delcy Rodríguez should not be exercising the presidency. Or that July 28, 2024 is not a page that can be turned as if nothing happened… If that is not discussed we would be breaking the truth,” he said.
How was Juan Pablo Guanipa arrested?
The leader also recalled his first arrest, which occurred last year in La Guaira, when – according to what he said – he was awakened by armed officials and transferred under strong restraint measures. He described the conditions of confinement as precarious, especially during the first weeks, marked by isolation and logistical limitations.
He clarified, however, that he did not suffer direct physical attacks. “They [los custodios] They treated me well from the beginning. “Some greeted me and others did not, some spoke with respect and others with disdain.”he added.
Although he noted that family distancing was one of the hardest aspects of his imprisonment.
Asked about fear, he acknowledged that it is an inevitable emotion in scenarios of political pressure. However, he maintained that The challenge is to face it with serenity. For Guanipa, this capacity is key in times that he described as complex for the country.
In political matters, he defended the review of institutional reforms, including the operation of the electoral system and the restitution of partisan guarantees. He considered that the recent releases of leaders open a window to rethink rules and strengthen democratic mechanisms.
On the national stage, he stated that Venezuela is going through a process of change whose outcome is still uncertain. Even so, he stressed the need for political actors—the ruling party and the opposition—to assume responsibilities to generate stability.
The interview concluded with a reflection: recognizing fear, but overcoming it as an essential step to move towards a country in transformation.
