President of the Spanish Government José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez "sometimes leaves a lot to be desired."

In an interview with a Spanish television channel, Zapatero reminded that every time he has talked to Chávez he has stressed that democracy "is the respect for the forms, that you have to respect the opposition, that you cannot be engaged all the time in a discourse of provocation," Efe quoted.

Zapatero reminded that the Venezuelan ruler "has won democratically," adding that "it is true, the people in Venezuela vote. A referendum was held that was lost by Chávez. Therefore, we should be respectful of what can be deemed a democratic behavior over there."

Last Friday, the Spanish Embassy to Caracas came under an attack where demonstrators painted graffiti supporting terrorist group ETA and exploded a gas bomb. The Venezuelan government vowed to find the culprits.