Argentina's new right-leaning leader Mauricio Macri requested that Venezuela release its political prisoners during a meeting at the Mercosur summit, which took place on Dec. 22.

The summit was held in Paraguay's capital city of Asunción

“Venezuela’s government must work toward achieving a true culture of democracy for our region,” Macri said, according to The Guardian. “There’s no room for persecution based on ideological reasons or for thinking differently.”

Since taking office on Dec. 10, Macri has demonstrated his desire to move his country away from the socialism that typified Argentina during the past 12 years, policies that have become known as “Kirchnerism.” As previously reported, Macri has already lifted the currency controls on the Argentine peso, as well as taxes on exports, in order to stimulate trade and spending.

Macri’s shot at Venezuela's human rights record is another example of an ideological shift away from socialist politics, as the political prisoners he referred to are all right-leaning figures.

As the BBC reports, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez responded to Macri’s comments by reminding Argentina of their failure to punish certain people responsible for human rights abuses committed during Argentina's military dictatorship, which lasted from 1976 to 1983.

Macri is not alone in his condemnation of Venezuela's human rights record. The United Nations, the European Union, and the Unites States have all pressured Venezuela to release their jailed opposition leaders. The imprisoned leaders include former mayors Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma.

As Telesur reports, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was unable to attend the Mercosur summit due to “internal matters.”

Since the Venezuelan opposition party won a two-thirds majority in the Dec. 6 legislative vote, Maduro has announced plans to investigate the election results.