Maduro’s early Christmas that seeks to cover up the crisis in Venezuela

Contrary to Christian tradition, Nicolás Maduro brought Christmas forward again this year and it started on October 1st. Howeverthe problem is not the presidential decree, but its mandatory nature.

Schools, businesses, public institutions, hospital facilities and streets lined with lights and Christmas decorations contrast with a Venezuela with electricity problems in which there are communities that spend up to more than eight hours without electricity service.

However, for Maduro and his companions, complaining about the advance and forcing children in schools to wear Christmas hats and sing Christmas carols in October, It is synonymous with being “imbecile.”

“There are journalists who from Miami, Spain, Colombia, speculate why Maduro brought Christmas early. “It’s not the first time, idiots, we’ve done it before,” said the official on his weekly TV program; and continued: “Idiot mercenaries! They write articles saying that we overtook it for this and that. Yes, we advanced them and we are happy. Our happiness hurts them. “Glasses!”

But although the streets already have decorations and the radio stations include the famous bagpipes – typical Venezuelan music – in their programming, the truth is that the spirit of celebration is little feltalthough Maduro insisted that the advance was to celebrate his victory on July 28 in the presidential elections, a victory that has been questioned due to the refusal of the National Electoral Council to show the results.

Decorations in Venezuela. Photo: EFE

The presidential decree, which has already been made in other years – in 2023 Christmas began on November 1 – includes fines and sanctions for merchants who refuse to even hang a garland at the entrance of their business.

“I had to put it on purpose. A tree with lights and some decorations, because those from Seniat did an inspection and “They threatened with fines if we did not join in on Christmas.”he said to THE TIME a small merchant who preferred not to identify himself.

The National Integrated Customs and Tax Administration Service (Seniat) regularly visits stores and businesses to verify that they pay taxes – which are also high – to the municipality and the State, but now the visit includes the quota of Christmas decorations and music.

The Catholic Church reacted and rejected that one of the greatest celebrations of Christianity be “used for propaganda purposes.”

“Christmas is a universal celebration. The manner and time of its celebration is the responsibility of the ecclesiastical authority,” the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference made clear in a statement.

Venezuelans celebrate Christmas. Photo: EFE

Tarnished celebration

At the beginning of December, the Armed Forces joined in, lost one of its members while they were launching fireworks in the Fuerte Tiuna military complex in Caracas, he reported The National.

The victim was identified as Sergeant José Gilber Vizcaya Laya, belonging to the Directorate of Chemicals, Explosives and Atomic Energy of the Directorate of Weapons and Explosives.

No senior commander spoke about what happened.

Also, while the fireworks were ringing, 70 minors imprisoned since July 29, one day after the elections, complained in their cells asking to be released, but their guards only repeated to them that they would be tried for terrorism.

The mothers of these young people, who were also unable to start the new school year, which started late, They ask to have their children back precisely by December 25, when Christmas is celebrated.

“I didn’t imagine that this year was going to be so hard; “I want my son at home, please,” he expressed to THE TIME one of the desperate mothers.

While this is happening, stores bill for lights, backdrops, trees and other decorations, “but not in the amount we would like,” says the cashier at a store in the center of Caracas. “People don’t have money for that. “First they are solving their needs and obviously it is not December”insists the young woman.

The price of a Christmas tree exceeds $100, while the basic basket is above $550, according to estimates by the Center for Documentation and Social Analysis of the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers.

*The Grupo de Diarios América (GDA), to which El Nacional belongs, is a network of leading media outlets founded in 1991, which promotes democratic values, the independent press and freedom of expression in Latin America through quality journalism for our audiences.