The recent focus on Venezuela has been centered around the aftermath of a controversial presidential election, which both the ruling party and the opposition claim to have won. This situation has been further complicated by the ongoing persecution of critics and the recent issuance of an arrest warrant for a former opposition presidential candidate.
In the midst of these rising political tensions, President Nicolás Maduro chose to turn attention to a different topic: the early celebration of Christmas. During his weekly television broadcast, Maduro announced that the holiday season would officially begin on October 1, stating, “It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas.” He expressed gratitude to the Venezuelan people for their support by declaring an early start to Christmas festivities.
However, many citizens are apprehensive about the prospect of an early holiday. José Ernesto Ruiz, a 57-year-old office worker in Caracas, questioned how people could embrace holiday cheer amid economic hardship and political unrest. “Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, parties, presents,” he said, “but without money and with this political crisis, who can believe that there will be an early Christmas?”
This is not the first instance in which Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has announced an early Christmas, having done so during the COVID-19 pandemic, though never as early as October. The current political climate appears to be particularly charged, despite Maduro’s assurances that the season would be marked by “peace, happiness, and security.”
Ruling party-affiliated electoral authorities declared Maduro the victor of the July 28 election, yet they failed to release detailed results, leading to international criticism. The opposition party has claimed that its candidate, Edmundo González, received more votes, presenting their own electoral data. Just hours before Maduro’s holiday declaration, a judge issued an arrest warrant for González, alleging various crimes.
Protests erupted following the election results, with the government responding by detaining numerous individuals. Since the election, over 2,000 people, including journalists, politicians, and aid workers, have been arrested.
Inés Quevedo, a 39-year-old mother of two, voiced her concerns about the financial challenges facing families. “We are all worried about how we are going to put food on the table, how we are going to pay for the bus, send the children to school and buy medicine when we need it,” she stated. She expressed skepticism about improvements to salaries or the distribution of traditional Christmas bonuses.
As it stands, the minimum wage in Venezuela has remained unchanged since 2022 at 130 bolivars per month, roughly $3.55. Although workers receive a monthly food assistance bonus and some government benefits, the economic outlook remains grim as citizens wait to see what this early Christmas celebration might entail.