Prominent Dutch politician Hans van Baalen says that Spain supports Latin American dictators.

He made the comments as leader of the world federation of Liberal parties in the European Parliament. He went on to say Spain maintains close ties with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and with Fidel and Raul Castro of Cuba.

He also pointed out that Spain’s left-wing Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has still not recognised the results of the democratic elections in Honduras. He says this is hampering the normalisation of European relations with the Central American country. He has called on Spain “to make a clear choice for democracy in Latin America.”

In November, Mr van Baalen became involved in a diplomatic row with Nicaragua. President Ortega said he had deported the conservative politician and accused him of seeking to incite a coup d’état. Mr van Baalen said he was in the country to talk with liberals and was only informed of his imminent deportation as he was leaving the country.

Hans van Baalen is a Member of the European Parliament for the conservative VVD.

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