Following public criticism Monday by ex minister of defense Raúl Baduel of the draft constitutional reform, former defense ministers, General Jorge Luis García Carneiro and Admiral Orlando Maniglia spoke up also, but to condemn and refuse Baduel's comments.

The senior officers clarified that Baduel had every right to issue an opinion with regard to the changes to the Constitution proposed by President Hugo Chávez, but took issue with him and reasserted their support to the head of state and his draft constitution.

García Carneiro termed Baduel "that new political actor" for exercising his civil and political rights. In his view, Baduel "looked dubious and used false assumptions" in reference to the proposed changes to the Constitution.

For his part, Maniglia said that Baduel "played his political role, which is interesting." Instead, he took sides with the work carried out by the National Assembly during the process of public consultation on the draft constitutional reform.