Opposition deputy: The Venezuelan gov't targets gold to negotiate debt

Referring to the recent apportionment of Venezuelan gold mines (Las Cristinas and Las Brisas) to Citic Group by the Venezuelan Government for exploration and production, opposition Deputy Américo De Grazia said that Venezuela had found the highest bidder.

Venezuelan authorities "are seeking the highest bidder and they have found it. That is why we have regarded this as a fraud against the nation," De Grazia remarked, adding that the "government has plans to use the natural resource as a means to negotiate its own debt."

The opposition leader stressed that said negotiation "is by no means beneficial for Venezuela and will rather lead to increased debt or could be used to pay the current debt with gold and diamonds (...)."

Translated by Jhean Cabrera