Venezuelan president threatens to jail Heinz managers

Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolás Maduro is threatening to jail the "bourgeois parasite" managers of the local branch of food company Heinz. After receiving complaints from workers, Mr Maduro made the warning during a television programme on Tuesday night, writes the FT's Andres Schipani in Caracas. Mr Maduro is trying to drum up support ahead of crucial parliamentary elections on Sunday, which polls suggest his party may lose, by intensifying a crackdown on private businesses amid a dire economic crisis. His comments are the latest attempt to fight what the embattled president calls an "economic war," in which he has accused many companies of speculation and trying to destabilise Venezuela by creating a shortage of basic goods. More…