The authoritarian leader of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has proclaimed that Christmas will commence three months ahead of schedule in the nation, a decision that some believe is aimed at advancing his political agenda.
The country has been engulfed by demonstrations following the controversial presidential election in July, where Mr. Maduro secured a third term amidst widespread skepticism about the validity of the results.
Despite the detainment of thousands of dissenters, the former bus driver-turned-politician appears to be concentrating on an entirely different matter: Christmas.
“It’s September, and the essence of Christmas is already in the air,” the 61-year-old remarked on his weekly television broadcast Monday evening.
“That is why this year, in honor and appreciation for all of you, I am declaring an early Christmas starting October 1.”
The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference expressed its disapproval of the declaration on Tuesday, cautioning that the holiday “should not be exploited for political or promotional purposes.”
They further emphasized in a statement that Christmas traditionally begins on December 25, as reported by CNN.
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Protests after Venezuela election results
José Ernesto Ruiz, a 57-year-old office worker from Caracas, stated: “Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, family gatherings, celebrations, and gifts.
“(However) in the face of lacking financial resources and amid this political turmoil, who can genuinely believe there will be an early Christmas?”
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Inés Quevedo, a 39-year-old secretary and mother of two, expressed: “Our primary concern is figuring out how we will provide food for our family, afford transport, send our children to school, and purchase necessary medications.
“I do not expect any improvements to our salaries or any disbursement of the ‘aguinaldo’,” she remarked, referencing the customary Christmas bonuses typically granted at year’s end.
The minimum wage in Venezuela has remained unchanged since 2022, sitting at 130 bolivars monthly, approximately $3.55 (£2.70).
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This is not the first instance in which Mr. Maduro has declared the early onset of Christmas.
He has made similar proclamations during the COVID-19 pandemic, though never this prematurely.
Despite the particularly charged political atmosphere, Mr. Maduro stated that the season will usher in “peace, joy, and security”.
Protests erupted as Mr. Maduro, in power since 2013, claimed yet another term at the helm of the South American nation. More than 2,000 individuals have been arrested in the unrest.
Hours before Mr. Maduro’s holiday declaration, a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest order for Edmundo González, his chief political rival, charging him with various offenses, including conspiracy, document forgery, and usurpation of powers.
His political party, in contrast to Mr. Maduro’s, presented evidence of having secured the most votes in the election held in July.
