Venezuela's Maduro: A Curse on Opposition

There's a week left in Venezuela's presidential campaign, and for those voters still sitting on the fence, Hugo Chavez's handpicked heir is offering up a little incentive in the form of a curse on those who would vote against him. "If anyone among the people votes against Nicolas Maduro, he is voting against himself, and the curse of Maracapana is falling on him," said Maduro, referring to a 16th century battle in which Spaniards vanquished indigenous fighters. "If the bourgeoisie win," he continued, "they are going to privatize health and education, they are going to take land from the Indians, the curse of Maracapana would come on you."

Opposition candidate Enrique Capriles, whom Maduro recently and bizarrely proclaimed was being targeted by American right-wing groups, dismissed the rhetoric, notes the BBC. "Anyone who threatens the people, who tells the people a curse can fall on them, has no right to govern this country," he told a rally. "I tell you here, all Venezuelans, the real curse is that little group that we are going to get rid of on April 14." The election is next Sunday. (More Nicolas Maduro stories.)