Musicians behind Despacito demand Venezuelan leader stop using hit song as 'propaganda'

The singers of the global hit Despacito have rounded on Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, for using the song as “propaganda” for his controversial move to rewrite the country’s constitution.

A remix of Despacito has figured prominently in Mr Maduro’s campaign for this Sunday’s vote, which will elect a “constituent assembly” to redraft the constitution over the heads of the opposition-controlled parliament.

Puerto Rican stars Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee angrily denounced the “illegal” use of the song, the Chavista remix of which was played on Mr Maduro’s TV show last weekend as government supporters danced along.

"Our call to the “constituent assembly” only seeks to unite the country ... Despacito!" the altered lyrics go. Instead of describing a slow (despacio) seduction technique, the chorus now urges Venezuelans to vote for the body.

Fonsi wrote on social media: ”At no point was I asked, nor did I authorise, the use or the change in lyrics of Despacito for political means, and much less so in the middle of the deplorable situation experienced by Venezuela, a country I love so much.

"My music is for all those who want to listen to it and enjoy it, not to be used as propaganda that tries to manipulate the will of a people who are crying out for their freedom," he said.

Mr Maduro has drawn international condemnation over the constituent assembly, which critics say is a power grab aimed at circumventing the opposition-led National Assembly and the beginning of a Cuban-style political system. Over 360 members of the body will be elected on Sunday, while a further 181 will be chosen by committees from sectors such as pensioners and farmers. He insists it will give unprecedented power to the people.

Anger at the move, as well as a deep economic crisis that has left many struggling to survive, has fuelled almost four months of protest in which some 100 people have been killed. 

Daddy Yankee decried Mr Maduro’s government as a “dictatorial regime”, posting a picture of the Venezuelan leader on Instagram with a red cross over it. 

"That you illegally appropriate a song does not compare with the crimes you commit and have committed in Venezuela," he wrote.