In a radio interview, national senator Patricia Bullrich (La Libertad Avanza) was asked about the celebrations of the Venezuelan community in the Buenos Aires Obelisk after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, where thousands of people blocked the streets to celebrate the end of the Chavista regime. When asked why Venezuelans were able to interrupt traffic while Argentine protests face anti-picketing protocols, Bullrich initially responded by denying that there were cuts, later stating: “Oh I don’t know, I didn’t see, I wasn’t in Buenos Aires.” However, the legislator had actively participated in the event the day before, where she even gave a speech.
The celebrations began on Saturday, January 3, 2026, when hundreds of Venezuelans residing in Argentina gathered at the Obelisk to express their joy at the arrest of Maduro in an operation led by the United States. The rally extended into the night, with flags, posters and tricolor caps, and generated interruptions in traffic in the central area of Buenos Aires. Bullrich attended the event and addressed the crowd, celebrating the fall of the regime and stating that “Argentina is willing to participate in Venezuela’s transition.” He also demanded the release of the Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo, detained in Caracas since December 2024.
The next day, in an interview on Urbana Play 104.3, the senator was questioned about the apparent double standard in handling protests. The dialogue was as follows: “Bullrich, why can Venezuelans block the street and Argentinians not?” “They weren’t blocking the street.” “Yes, they were blocking the street.” “Oh I don’t know, I didn’t see, I wasn’t in Buenos Aires.”
This response generated immediate criticism on social networks, where users recalled their presence at the event, documented with photos and videos. The clip of the interview quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), accumulating thousands of views and comments that questioned his memory or honesty.
Bullrich, former Minister of Security during the government of Mauricio Macri and current senator for the City of Buenos Aires, has been a key figure in the implementation of protocols against picketing in Argentina. The contrast with the Venezuelan celebrations highlights debates about the selective application of these measures, especially in a context of official support for political change in Venezuela.
