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Venezuelan President claims his harassed supporters ‘are the new Jews’

Under Mr Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela was widely recognised as the most antisemitic country in South America

May 18, 2017 09:18
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1 min read

The President of Venezuela has referred to himself and his supporters as “the new Jews of the 21st century”, after daily rallies where tens of thousands have protested against the policies of his government.

Nicolas Maduro, who assumed control of the country in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez, made the comments during a televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening, where he was discussing the harassment of government officials.

"Chavistas [supporters of the political movement begun by Mr Chavez] are the new Jews of the 21st century”, Mr Maduro said.

“We do not have the star of David but the red hearts that are filled with desire to fight for human dignity. And we are going to defeat them, these 21st-century Nazis.”