The President of the Spanish government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, ensured he was the person who designed the bilateral policy regarding Venezuela.

He claimed that his Council of Ministers has also deliberated on Venezuela-Spain links, but refused to disclose the contents of such deliberations.

Rodríguez Zapatero's comments came in an interview with the Spanish edition of Foreign Policy and were quoted by news agency Europress.

The Spanish head of State conceded that Venezuela is facing "a difficult situation," since the fall of the traditional system of parties. "Beyond the reactions in the face of Hugo Chávez, who deserves respect because he was elected by the vote, the question is why the now extinct system of parties comprising AD and Copei came to its destruction?"

He claimed that Venezuela is a country in need of a development process and consolidation of democratic institutions. "It is not good news" the fact that the Venezuelan opposition did not take part in December 4th parliament polls. "Regardless of who is the winner, Chávez or anyone else, Spain wants to have good relations with Venezuela. But we also want Venezuela to meet some standards you may describe as democratic," he added.