CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — It doesn’t feel like Christmas in Venezuela. At least not yet. Even if the president wants it that way.
Residents of the capital, Caracas, woke up on Tuesday to a towering Christmas tree in a popular public square, weeks after President Nicolas Maduro took office. He declared that the joyous season would begin early. This year in a South American country.
Workers hurriedly put up decorations in various locations, but the atmosphere was far from festive.
“I think it’s terrible because it’s October,” Desiree Aguiar, 32, said before setting up her jewelry and accessories booth at a local market. “Halloween isn’t even over yet, so is it already Christmas?” Shall we celebrate together? ”
Venezuelans, especially those who remember life at the beginning of this century, have long associated Christmas with careless purchases and bulging wallets, thanks to profit sharing and holiday bonuses paid by employers at the end of the year. Employees often received three times their monthly salary at once. The smell of fresh paint could even herald Christmas as many people gave their walls a fresh coat of paint.
But these days, with meager wages and bonuses due to the country’s economic collapse, the season has become one that divides the haves from the have-nots. And this season has arrived again this year. Collective pessimism after the July 28 election.
“If they start prepaying Christmas bonuses, there will be nothing left in December,” Aguiar lamented. “I think that’s a really bad idea.”
It remains unclear whether public and private sector employers will change their bonus payments this year. Maduro, who was given a third six-year term by election authorities, stunned the country on September 2 by declaring on state television that the Christmas season would start earlier than ever.
A woman takes a selfie with her daughter among Christmas decorations in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Despite the derision that followed Maduro’s executive order on social media, few people on the streets dared to say anything about the decision. This is another sign of the chilling effect of President Maduro’s executive order. repression campaign carried out by the government After a highly anticipated election.
Thousands of people, including minors, took to the streets across Venezuela This came hours after election officials loyal to the ruling party declared Mr. Maduro the winner without providing a vote count. The protests were largely peaceful, but some demonstrators The fallen statue of former President Madurolate leader Hugo Chávez threw stones at law enforcement officers and buildings, and burned motorcycles and government propaganda.
President Maduro and his ruling allies, who control every aspect of the government, responded fully to the demonstrations. Security forces detained more than 2,000 people, including minors, and more than 20 protesters were killed.
President Maduro also called on Venezuelans blame election suspects Through a government-run app originally created to report complaints about power outages and state-provided services. This has led people to delete photos, videos, memes, messages, and apps from their phones to avoid prosecution.
Workers install Christmas lights in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, October 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Kubijos)
People walk past Christmas decorations in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
On Tuesday, some rejected President Maduro’s decree for economic or political reasons, while others rejected it for puritanical reasons.
“Christmas is in December. We must make it clear that we are celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ,” said a man installing decorative lights along a main boulevard in Caracas. said Wilfredo Gutierrez, 61, as he looked at a group of workers.
“The good thing was that they picked up the trash. Usually it’s dirty here.”
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Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.
