Valdes in Venezuela, exiled?

Authors:
Luis Alberto López Rafaschieri and José Alberto López Rafaschieri
www.morochos.net

Obviously, the presence of General Valdes in Venezuela is closely related to the Cuban colonization process that Chavez has been promoting. However, from the perspective of Raul Castro, the exit of Valdes from Cuba could have further implications.

Since Raul took power in Cuba, the changes that have been made have led to the removal of key figures of the old order -Jose Luis Rodriguez, Carlos Lage and Felipe Perez Roque-, so it was logical to expect that other Fidelismo's important pieces were changed at any time.

Valdes was one of the most emblematic figures of Fidel-style Castrismo, and his position was absolutely consolidated within the previous regime, but perhaps a person with his authority and contacts would put at risk the changes advanced by Raul and the emergent ruling class. Also, dying Fidel, Valdes had the potential to become one of the most dangerous politicians in Cuba, reasons for getting him out of the way would seem inevitable.

The truth is that it is highly suspicious that someone of his advanced age -78- and so important in the Cuban bureaucracy, has been suddenly assigned to a mission abroad. Raul could well have sent someone else to continue the colonization of Venezuela and, equally, charging the sum of 2500 million dollars -paid by the Chavez government-. Valdes was not the only one who could do the work in Venezuela, but yes one of the few who would need to be removed by Raulismo.

Ramiro Valdes was sent to the foreign legion, and in Venezuela he is very far from being the same powerful person he was in Cuba.

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