CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela’s embattled socialist president likened the sour reception many of his government’s officials are receiving abroad to the harassment of Jews in Nazi Germany, provoking outrage Tuesday from the small Jewish community that remains in this troubled South American nation.
In a state broadcast Tuesday night, President Nicolas Maduro criticized Venezuelan expatriates who have been yelling at Venezuelan officials in other countries, or who use social media to post photos of officials living it up abroad while the country struggles with triple-digit inflation and food shortages.
“We are the Jews of the 21st century,” Maduro declared.
He also suggested the anti-government protests that have convulsed the nation for six weeks are similar to the rallies presided over by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. The president’s administration often characterizes the political opposition as “fascists” trying to stage a coup.
His comment drew strong criticism from the leaders of the Confederation of Israelite Associations of Venezuela, which represents the nation’s Jewish community. In a statement, the group expressed “absolute repudiation” of any attempt to equate recent events with the persecution endured by Jews in Nazi Germany.