Caracas Chronicles

Photo: venezuela2013noticiasopiniones retrieved.

Full disclosure: I used to be in love with Henrique Capriles.

From 2010 to 2017, I declared my love on Twitter, made friends who worked with him tell him I existed and worked in every campaign so I could meet him (for the sake of my country, guys!). I was certain I could be this nation’s First Girlfriend. I shamelessly flirted when I finally met him, asking him out several times. He politely declined, but I insisted because I’m tenacious and foolish.

I honestly thought we’d make a great couple. I even got jealous when people said he was dating TV presenters.

Yes, I had a ridiculous, pathetic, delusional crush on him and he was indifferent. No me paró bolas. I resent him. I practiced braiding my hair like Lilian Tintori in case I had to step up and give that human rights’ activist vibe, I practiced my speeches to be his best ambassador, I even imagined how I’d deal with threats and chavistas insulting me on Twitter, too. Being ignored or rejected is really painful and I hate him for unknowingly breaking my heart.

I hate the guy.

But I won’t participate in his digital crucifixion.

I hate the guy. But I won’t participate in his digital crucifiction.

I thought he could do no wrong, until last year. I thought he was brave (I still do), and I respect that he’s done whatever his heart said was the right thing. “But he didn’t defend his victory when he ran against Maduro,” yeah, he also didn’t want people killed on the streets for his sake, and that’s a good thing. I think he’s been coherent and consecuente, he has done what he believes to be right, not caving in to the tremendous pressure he must have had.

Few politicians in this country have been as mistreated as Capriles. He was a political prisoner, barred from running for public office, slandered, insulted by both chavistas and opposition, prohibited to leave the country, reduced, insulted, called a liar and a coward, and much more. And now everyone’s saying he’s a corrupt jerk.

Can we at least know for sure he did anything illegal, before we call him corrupt? Can we at least wait for a fair trial?

A crowd pointing fingers at people from El Arepazo in Doral or Parque 93 in Bogotá is plain bullshit. Sure, no stone should be left unturned to find and prosecute everyone who’s ever robbed a penny, including former friends of mine who became bolichicos. But it’s painful how everyone assumes his guilt. Capriles went from what we saw during the campaign years ago to what he’s accused of now. Insulting Henrique Capriles because the “TSJ en el exilio” named him in their trial against Maduro is reactionary and wrong.

First, it’s not illegal to receive private funds or donations for a campaign.

Second, can we at least know for sure he did anything illegal, before we call him corrupt? Can we at least wait for a fair trial?

The “innocent until proven guilty” thing is a conquest of modern civilization, guys. We complain about chavista jurists never giving our political prisoners a fair shake, but we’re skipping that part too.

Yes, I hate him and it takes me a tremendous effort to objectively say: he doesn’t deserve this.

But, apparently, hell hath no fury like a country scorned.