Venezuela's president calls for prosecution of food magnate

[Bacchus4.0]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/venezuelas-president-calls-prosecution-food-magnate-141657020.html

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Nicolas Maduro has called for the prosecution of Venezuela's biggest businessman for allegedly conspiring against his government in a phone call discussing a possible international bailout for the crisis-stricken, oil-dependent economy

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The sharp rebuke was in response to a phone conversation aired on state TV last week between Mendoza and outspoken government critic Ricardo Hausmann, a Harvard University economist who suggested Venezuela needs a $40 billion IMF bailout to stem a deep crisis marked by triple-digit inflation, widespread shortages and an estimated 10 percent shrinking of the economy this year.

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Mendoza hasn't responded to Maduro's remarks. But in a statement last week, he accused the government of violating his privacy by illegally recording and then broadcasting a personal conversation. He said he's deeply concerned about the march of the economy, which has already led to work stoppages at several Polar-owned facilities, and regularly converses with economists across the political spectrum.

Polar is the country's largest food supplier and a favorite target of Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who have accused businesses of trying to sabotage the economy by hoarding goods sold at state-mandated prices and handing them over to criminals who smuggle them across the border, where they can fetch a huge premium.

Most Venezuelans don't appear to accept that explanation for the country's economic problems, with polls showing opposition candidates heavily favored to win December congressional elections.

[COLGATE4]

1. As to the statement that 'polls show opposition

candidates heavily favored to win the December congressional elections', remember what Stalin said: It's not who votes that counts - it's who counts the votes.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. The question is whether they will commit blatant fraud or simply suspend the elections

since they will lose.

[COLGATE4]

3. I'm betting on suspending the elections. More of a Maduro-type

thing to do.