 In 1998 he voted for Hugo Chavez, but two years later accused him of being "a continuation of the past" and a neoliberal who was only concerned with continuing Rafael Caldera's agenda.This resulted in Merida being condemned by the Bolivarian government.On April 23, 2005, a would-be robber threw a hunk of steel through the windshield of Merida's vehicle as he travelled through Caracas on the Valle-Coche highway.