In an interview given by the ex-ambassador to La Nacion, Federico Picado emphasized that chronic shortages of basic goods in Venezuela were caused by political pressure of influential business figures who aimed to instigate internal turmoil and undermine President Maduro's leadership in the country.
He also hailed the decision made by Venezuela's parliament to grant Nicolas Maduro with emergency powers after Washington imposed sanctions against several government officials in Venezuela.
Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis rushed to declare that the authorities of the country did not share the stance of Federico Picado.
"The content of the statements and the possibility of giving an interview was not previously discussed," Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez stated during the official news conference.
