The True Nature of Ideas
Election campaigns are often filled with promises, slogans, and carefully crafted speeches designed to win the citizens’ vote. However, once the political race is over, the moment comes when ideas leave the theoretical realm and begin to manifest themselves in reality. I firmly believe that the true nature of an ideology can be discerned precisely at that moment: not by what it promises, but by the behavior it inspires in its leaders, its supporters, and those who act on its behalf.
Ideologies should not be judged by the beauty of their rhetoric, but by their concrete results.
From this perspective, one of the clearest indicators is to observe how different political sectors react when they lose power or when the outcome of an election is unfavorable to them. In various Latin American countries—such as Chile, Bolivia, Honduras, and Ecuador—a frequently recurring phenomenon can be observed: when a left-wing government is replaced by a right-wing one, the response is not institutional acceptance, but rather unrest, riots, and actions aimed at disrupting public order. In contrast, when election results favor the left, normality prevails. The vast majority of the right accepts the results and respects order without resorting to violence as a tool of political pressure; the few isolated incidents of unrest stem from reckless individuals or provocateurs infiltrated to sow destabilization.
This profound difference and moral asymmetry is clearly evident in the security measures surrounding leaders during political races.
I remember perfectly well the harsh criticism directed at the Colombian president for attending his rallies surrounded by strict security measures and armored protection, which was used to portray him as someone who was afraid. However, that leader had to protect his life because there were specific death threats against him. In contrast, the left-wing candidate walked freely and without fear. The explanation is purely logical: his supporters would never attack their own leader, and those of us on the right are not murderers, nor do we use the physical elimination of our adversaries as a tool of political action. It is in this need for protection that it becomes clear which side harbors a propensity for harm and evil.
This is not about making absolute generalizations; I recognize that not everyone who identifies with the left engages in such behavior. Many citizens support these movements in good faith, convinced that they represent a path toward a more just society. However, they are misled by ideological positions that promise social justice, but they are completely unaware of their real consequences.
The examples in the region are painful, obvious, and indisputable.
Cuba, which was once one of the most prosperous and advanced islands in the continent, is now sinking into deep economic and social decline, lacking even basic services such as electricity. Nicaragua and Venezuela have followed the same path of institutional and economic destruction.
This latter nation is currently undergoing a crucial transition; and it is my fervent hope that this process may come to full completion so that the Venezuelan people may break their chains, restore their democratic institutions, and once again live in absolute and total freedom.
Recent history provides ample examples with which to evaluate each model; therefore, I reaffirm my conviction that the defense of freedom, the Rule of Law, and peaceful coexistence are the indispensable pillars for building truly prosperous societies.
Dr. José Benjamín Pérez Matos
President