Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assured that his country would record in 2024 “the lowest inflation in decades”, while affirming that “there are good expectations in society, in the population” and “among economic actors”.
“Already in 2024, we can say (…) that we have defeated hyperinflationand we are going to have this year (…) the lowest inflation in decades,” he said in a statement. meeting with representatives of banks, insurance and securitiesbroadcast on the national channel VTV.
Since last year, Venezuela – which experienced a hyperinflationary period between 2017 and 2021 – records a slowdown in the price indicatorwhich reached 0.75% in July, according to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), despite “periods of political unrest” and economic sanctions, Maduro said.
On July 1, the president assured that June had recorded the lowest inflation in 39 yearsA data subsequently corrected by the BCV, which assured that the data I was 12 years old, This is the lowest inflation rate since 2012.
He also specified that this was the lowest month of June in 39 years, positively exceeded in July 2024, as the decrease to 0.75%.
On the other hand, the head of state stressed that, according to a report published this Thursday by the issuing body, The economy grew by 8.78% between April and June this year.with which the country accumulates thirteen consecutive quarters of increase in its gross domestic product (GDP).
Likewise, he assured that domestic consumption increased by 8.99% in the first half of 2024, which is seen as a sign that the country has “a strong market.”
“Despite the regrets that we know exist, workers’ wages and incomes must be improved “More and more, we have created a system of production, income and social protection that allows millions of men and women in this country to have access to the consumption of their vital elements,” he said.
In Venezuela, a person needs 34.4 minimum wages -currently at 3.5 dollars per month-, to pay for the basic food basket, which cost in July $108.5 for each member of a family of five, according to data from the Center for Documentation and Social Analysis of the Venezuelan Federation of Teachers (Cendas-FVM).
In addition to the minimum wage, workers receive a $40 Power Bonusto which is added, for public agents, what is called “economic war bonus”of 90 dollars, for a total of 133.5 dollars, paid in bolivars at the official exchange rate of the BCV.
Power outage in 90% of the country
On the other hand, the Minister of Communication and Information of Venezuela, Freddy Ñáñez, denounced this Friday a act of “sabotage” which caused a Power outage affecting 90% of the country since this morning.
“Today there was sabotage against the electrical system which This affected almost the entire national territory“All 24 states are reporting complete or partial loss of electricity supply,” the minister said in a statement to VTV.
The Minister accused the opposition of being behind the blackoutwhich occurred at around 4:45 a.m. local time (10:45 a.m. in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands), in a new “desperate and blind measure” aimed at undermining peace in the country after the elections.
The elections at the end of July resulted in the victory of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, in the middle of an election campaign. accusations of massive fraud by the oppositionOpposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo González maintain that the latter was the real winner of the elections. International governments critical of Maduro are still demanding the detailed disclosure of the electoral results.
“The Fascism Option”Ñáñez denounced, “it was to destroy our institutions and provoke violence in the streets, but they did not succeed and today they tried a desperate and blind measure “It leads nowhere.”
“Criminal attack”
The minister assured that all the teams of the electrical service, as well as the entire national government, have been active since the confirmation of the failure. “to restore peace to people”This is what “they want to take away from us with these violent and irresponsible adventures that only bring anxiety.”
In a later appearance, Maduro denounced a “Criminal attack” on the national electricity system and assured that, “as always”, he is now “at the forefront of the situation, alongside the people”, while the Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, also appeared before the media to assure that supply is already “restored in stages” throughout the country.
“By harming our people, they strengthen the spirit, strengthen the desire to move forward (…) Our people are on the streets without any problems“The right would like to generate some form of violence, but it will not succeed, the conscience of this people is above that,” Cabello said.
