https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/just-shut-up-and-publish-the-minutes-of-the-elections-in-venezuela-and-recognize-the-will-of-the-people-1

Nicolás Maduro’s recent statement that “whoever messes with Venezuela, dries up” is a desperate attempt to intimidate those who defend freedom and justice in the region. This warning, steeped in Caribbean superstition, where authoritarianism is mixed with Santeria and magical thinking, seeks to sow fear, but it will not find fertile ground in Panama.  With those words, Maduro not only issued a political threat; he also evoked religious and cultural traditions that have historically been used to consolidate power in oppressive regimes. However, in Panama we are not intimidated. We are driven by our history, the lessons we have learned and, above all, by solidarity with our Venezuelan brothers and sisters, who today suffer brutal repression for speaking out against electoral fraud, forced into mass migration due to violence and the lack of opportunities resulting from the dictatorship.  In the face of your threats, we join the cry of the emeritus king of Spain: “Why don’t you shut up?” and we add: “Publish the minutes of the elections in Venezuela and recognize the will of the people.”  When Maduro speaks of a “pressure cooker” in Panama, it makes us think that he could support violent demonstrations in our country, under the guise of social demands, to subvert our sociopolitical order. It is not the first time that we suspect his influence in some violent demonstrations within our territory. However, we know that Panamanians will not allow these maneuvers to endanger our democracy.

At this crucial moment, we recall the Betancourt Doctrine, which has guided us for decades in the defense of democracy, not only in our country, but throughout the region. Supporting the Venezuelan people in their struggle against an authoritarian regime is not just an act of compassion; it is a moral obligation and a duty of all of us who value freedom.  President José Raúl Mulino has been clear: democracy is not negotiable. In this firm stance he has the support of the majority who defend democratic values. It is not an intervention in foreign affairs, but an act of solidarity with those who, like us, fight for their freedom. It is an echo of the tradition of our predecessors, who never hesitated to raise their voices against injustice.  As citizens and as a nation, we stand firm alongside the Venezuelan people, not only because we share their pain, but because we know that defending democracy in any corner of Latin America is protecting our own freedom. Panama, small in territory but great in principles, will not dry up, Mr. Maduro. Our roots are deeply embedded in the fertile soil of democracy. These are the forces that will withstand any storm, wherever it may come from.