Malas jUNTas

Un Nuevo Tiempo's outright loss of credibility has blurred the line between real and fake news.

Yesterday, some shady sites started spreading reports that the leaders of Un Nuevo Tiempo had rejected the U.S. Treasury Dept. sanctions against vice-president Tareck El Aissami for drug trafficking.

The good news is that these reports are fake news (VERY DISHONEST!): the party never issued such a statement, which is a relief to be honest, because the claims, false as they were, totally fit UNT’s character, considering their recent blunders. That’s what happens when organizations lose credibility.

It took the party a few hours to issue an official response on the matter, condemning the “dirty war” against the Democratic Unity. And this is how it starts:

In view of the constant false accusations, prepared by media labs dedicated to slandering our political organization through the fabrication of statements allegedly issued by our leadership, the National Executive Board of Un Nuevo Tiempo categorically rejects the shameful actions of those who evidently seek to tarnish our reputation and divide the Democratic Unity.

La Dirección Ejecutiva Federal del partido Un Nuevo Tiempo, en vista de las constantes afirmaciones y acusaciones falsas, provenientes de laboratorios mediáticos dedicados a calumniar a nuestra organización política mediante la invención de declaraciones de nuestros dirigentes, rechaza contundentemente las acciones que busquen empañar y dividir de manera vergonzosa y evidente a la Unidad Democrática.

Sound familiar?

Chavismo has always blamed “media labs” and external threats for their mess, and now Un Nuevo Tiempo’s down to imitating their narrative in formal communiqués.

Then this:

As always, Un Nuevo Tiempo will continue to follow the Unity’s lead and keep travelling to every corner of the nation to lend our efforts for the recovery of our country.

Un Nuevo Tiempo, como siempre, seguirá actuando bajo la línea de la Unidad y seguirá recorriendo cada rincón del territorio nacional para trabajar hombro a hombro por el rescate de nuestro país.

This is simply a lie. While all parties share the responsibility for MUD’s current state, UNT has done nothing but undermine the coalition for months. The situation has become so untenable that MUD-Zulia recently split over political and operational differences, alienating AD and UNT in the region. 

Seriously, guys, dejen la mala junta. Maybe you wouldn’t have to explain yourselves and deny false allegations if you were a bit more transparent. Maybe, if you really did oppose chavismo, if you didn’t sound so much like them, your credibility wouldn’t be the wreck it is right now.