Maduro threatens legal action against Spanish media over ¡°psychological war¡±

Venezuela¡¯s President Nicol¨¢s Maduro says he is considering legal action against the Spanish media, accusing them of ¡°waging a psychological war¡± against his government. Speaking on Venezuelan state television on Tuesday, Maduro said he had contacted the country¡¯s ambassador in Madrid, Mario Isea, to discuss judicial options.

¡°Venezuelans have the right for their truth to be known, and Spaniards also have a right to know the truth,¡± said the president on his television program Contacto con Maduro (Contact Maduro).

The opposition is garnering signatures in order to hold a recall referendum on Maduro¡¯s mandate

¡°The war being waged in Spain is terrible¡­ I am preparing a group of Spanish, European and Venezuelan jurists to take a series of judicial measures¡­ to guarantee respect for Venezuela¡¯s honor,¡± he said.

Venezuela¡¯s worsening economic situation has been widely covered in the international media. President Maduro has declared a state of emergency following riots over shortages of essential goods and power cuts.

Spain has sent former Prime Minister Jos¨¦ Luis Rodr¨ªguez Zapatero as part of an international delegation to help mediate between the government and the opposition, which is garnering signatures in order to hold a recall referendum on Maduro¡¯s mandate.

Last week, Maduro accused the Spanish government of being part of a campaign to back an international invasion of Venezuela. ¡°What is happening in Madrid against Venezuela is a war campaign, a campaign to prepare, which will never happen, but that is in the macabre minds of those planning an invasion, a military intervention,¡± he said on Friday.

English version by Nick Lyne.