Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez accused the boss of the Organization of American States’ (OAS) in Washington, D.C. Thursday of trying to mount a “coup” against Venezuela, then compared him to a fast-food worker.
Rodriguez was at the OAS, an international organization based in Washington, D.C. that fosters cooperation and dialogue between its member states, the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The international organization is debating potentially suspending Venezuela’s membership to the organization due to its undemocratic actions in recent years as the country spirals out of financial and political control.
Debate over the troubled South American country’s future got heated when Rodriguez told OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro at a debate, “If you were an employee of McDonald’s, you would never be named Employee of the Month.” Rodriguez went on to call Almagro a “puppet” and added, “this is a coup that is being carried out in this organization to overcome the legitimate government of Nicolás Maduro.”
Almagro on the other hand stated, “The situation facing Venezuela today is the direct result of the actions of those currently in power.” Venezuela is currently led by Socialist President Nicolas Maduro who came to power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez. In Almagro’s opinion, “This crisis is reaching a breaking point.”
Venezuela is in the cross-hairs of the OAS after years of economic decay and clamping down on the free press and opposition politicians. Hyperinflation has ravaged the country and it is expected to hit 720 percent this year.
Rodriguez called on Almagro to resign as OAS boss Sunday. OAS members Bolivia and Nicaragua both support the Venezuelan stance and want Almagro to resign.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has initiated a dialogue with Rodriguez to address the slow-burning dual political and economic crises plaguing the country. The OAS decided Thursday in a 20 to 12 vote, with two abstentions, in favor of condemning the Venezuelan government — this condemnation, however, did not result in a suspension of membership.
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