Venezuelan Vice-President Jorge Rodríguez said Monday that ex minister of defense Raúl Baduel has the right to take part in politics, as any other Venezuelan citizen; therefore, his remarks against the changes to the Constitution proposed by President Hugo Chávez should be respected.

"Seeing how the masks fall down is reassuring," said Rodríguez in reference to the retired general, who has been one of President Chávez' most loyal persons.

"Interestingly, it seems that President Chávez is getting the power of a diviner. I do not if you remember that yesterday (on Sunday), Chávez said that some masks were to fall down and some traitors were to take out their masks," he added.

Rodríguez said that Baduel acted as a "spokesman of the opposition," because he reasoned similarly. "He said nothing new."