Sitting in the sparse office where he is planning his bid for the presidency of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo picks up his campaign bible, a book called Itaipú: waters worth gold .

"Venezuela sells its oil at market prices, not cost price. Chile sells its copper at market price. We want a fair price for our electricity," says the former bishop, whose power-to-the-people message of charging more for his country's vast energy exports has dominated a race he hopes will end 61 years of one-party rule.