Capriles calls upon citizens to unite to face economic moves

Opposition Miranda state governor and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski on Thursday said the Venezuelan Government deceived people as it vowed in 2012 that there would be no devaluation and yet has launched the so-called "red package."

"Why devaluating the currency? It (The Government) lied to the country. It has been one lie after another. It was a systematic lie," Capriles said.

After showing statements issued by senior government officials and President Hugo Chávez denying plans to devalue the currency in 2013, Capriles asked Venezuelans not to believe that the foreign exchange adjustment "aims at protecting your resources. It is nothing but a red package."

He recalled that in the run-up to the presidential election in 2012, he was accused of hiding an economic package in his government program.

Capriles asserted that his economic proposals for the first 100 days in office did not include devaluation.

"There is no need to devalue the currency as soon as you take office. You have to boost confidence in the country; you must promote foreign investments and stop giving oil away to other countries," the opposition leader remarked.

Capriles proposed an approach opposed to the recent economic actions. He said that the Government could "stop giving oil away and boost domestic output;" develop a program to bring hunger down to zero and "meet food needs in families with no income whatsoever;" adjust the minimum wage and pensions "at the same rate of the devaluation, and change the failed socialist model."

He added that the Government "has been unmasked. Who will believe in the Government? If it says it will not increase the price of gasoline, it means it will. We urge them to stop these economic moves."

Translated by Jhean Cabrera