“It’s September and it already smells like Christmas, it smells like Christmas. And that’s why this year, in homage to you, in gratitude to you, I’m going to decree Christmas early on October 1st.” With these words, the self-proclaimed president of Venezuela, Nicolas Madurohighlighted the preview of the end-of-year festivities on his television show. He said this shortly after his country’s prosecutors ordered the arrest of the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalezfor alleged terrorism-related crimes.
While a large part of the population continues to implore the regime to end the repression and pave the way for a peaceful transition to democracy, the government turns a deaf ear and tries to make people believe that normality is happening in Venezuela. Maduro smiles in front of the cameras and promises a bright future. His small audience applauds and celebrates him. The world’s democracies, for their part, are increasingly concerned about the attitude of a dictatorship that shows no sign of dialogue and clings to power.
“Christmas begins on October 1st. For everyone, Christmas has come, with peace, happiness and security”. The measure, also carried out in 2020 and 2021, is accompanied by an increase in the distribution of aid and bags of food to the most needy neighborhoods. It is a policy that, according to experts, stands out for its populism and its desperate attempt to distract the people. The political crisis that is hitting the nation is far from having disappeared, however.
Five weeks have passed since the July 28 elections. Uncertainty, instead of diminishing, has increased. The military and the Bolivarian National Police They hunt down dissidents in the streets and in their homes, invade the privacy of their cell phones and operate outside the law. Maduro, who plans to run for his third term on January 10 despite his electoral defeat, denies all charges against him.
The opposition, for its part, refuses to settle down. With the publication of more than 80% of the minutes, the candidacy of Edmundo González demands that popular sovereignty be respected and that the abuses cease. Without knowing the next steps, the two Maria Corina Machado Like his running mate, they promised citizens to keep up the pressure and not give up.
Over the past week, more than 80% of the country has been plunged into darkness due to a structural failure of the energy system. Maduro has blamed the opposition and, as he did after the election, an alleged operation planned from abroad. Again, no evidence. “The Venezuelan people have given a beautiful demonstration to the fascists”he added.
In addition to the multiple crises affecting the dictatorship, there are concrete measures on the part of foreign powers. On Monday, the United States confiscated the government’s official plane in the Dominican Republic. The trade sanctions that Washington maintains against Venezuela would explain this action.
