Ex-President Alvaro Uribe voiced his opinion on several matters during his book launch, criticizing reelected Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and also saying he has hope for the future of Colombia.
The former president of Colombia, Uribe, launched his book entitled “No Lost Causes” at the National Press Club in Washington Thursday. During the event he openly criticized Chavez’ leadership saying that he “moves with the disguise of democracy toward communism.” However, when asked to comment on the Venezuelan leader’s reelection, he declined from giving his opinion, according to Caracol Radio.
Uribe also conveyed his confidence in the future of his country, stating that, “I am optimistic for the courage of our people, and the strength of democratic institutions. I am critical but optimistic.”
The upcoming peace talks with FARC were also mentioned as Uribe expressed that the negotiations were “nonsense,” newspaper El Tiempo reported. Uribe has consistently opposed the peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the country’s largest guerrilla group FARC that seek to end the ongoing internal conflict.
The ex-president also reportedly gave his opinion of the current and former U.S. Presidents, saying that former president George W. Bush “is spontaneous and speaks his mind” while President Barack Obama “is reflective and listens to his speaker.”
Alvaro Uribe was Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010 and has been considered the single most influential and divisive figure in the country’s politics of the century so far. He recently released his book “No Lost Causes,” a memoir in which Colombia’s ex-president gives his version of how he changed the country during his presidency.
