Venezuela's "extremist" opposition would impose totalitarianism, like dictator Augusto Pinochet did in Chile, dpa quoted President Nicolas Maduro as saying in an interview published Thursday by French daily Le Monde. "If one day these people came to power - which won't happen - they would destroy democracy in Venezuela and impose a totalitarian project," Maduro told the paper in his first interview with foreign media since his inauguration on April 19. "In Chile there was Pinochet ... A similar ideology is emerging here," said Maduro, who narrowly defeated opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in disputed elections held after the death of Hugo Chavez, who had anointed Maduro as his heir. "We will prevent a new Pinochet emerging in Venezuela. We will do it via democracy," the 50-year-old former trade union leader said. Venezuela has been in turmoil since the mid-April elections. Maduro downplayed the tensions, saying Venezuela could tackle "any threat".
