With regard to the humanitarian swap in Colombia, Richard Casanova, the leader of opposition MAS party, denounced a political deal between Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), based on common interests besides the release of hostages.

Casanova thinks that FARC intends to recover their lost belligerence and trust. In the meantime, President Chávez tries to make room for the rebels to have a candidate of their own running for Colombian president.

"Probably the candidacy of (opposition Senator) Piedad Córdoba, who is the political operator between FARC and the Venezuelan president," he speculated.

In addition, he thinks that Chávez was taking part as middleman in the process as he would like to win the Nobel Peace Prize.