Spain To Complain To Venezuela Over MEP Expulsion

Luis Herrero, MEP for Spain`s conservative PP party, was deported on Friday.

Spain said it will complain to Venezuela for deporting a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for criticizing rules for a vote on Sunday on whether to allow President Hugo Chavez to stand for reelection.

Luis Herrero, MEP for Spain's conservative PP party, was ejected on Friday after Venezuela's electoral authority said he questioned its impartiality.

Spain's government has requested a meeting with Venezuela's ambassador in Madrid to express its disapproval, a Foreign Office spokesman said.

But Chavez, who has had rocky relations with Spain and its businesses in Venezuela, said ties should not suffer.

"I have faith that this regrettable incident, which was planned and deliberate by this dishonorable member of the European Parliament, will in no way hurt our excellent relations with the Spanish government," Chavez said at a news conference.

Herrero told Spanish Television: "They grabbed me and stuck me in a car without giving me any explanation for what was happening."

European Popular Party President Joseph Daul said: "This confirms that Hugo Chavez's regime is moving ever further away from the fundamental liberties which should be respected in every democracy."

Venezuela's relations with Spain hit a low point in 2007 when Chavez threatened to review diplomatic and business ties after being told to "shut up" by Spain's King Juan Carlos when he interrupted the Spanish prime minister during a summit.

The rift was officially repaired in 2008 on Chavez's official visit to Spain, where he shook hands with the king and discussed a multimillion dollar oil-for-investment deal with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Spanish businesses, including banks BBVA and Santander and oil company Repsol, have an estimated $2.4 billion invested in Venezuela.