Caracas

In Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela, Christmas will now be celebrated way in advance. The president announced Monday (Sep 2) that this year’s festivities would begin in October.

Advertisment

“It’s September and it already feels like Christmas,” the strongman declared. “So this year – as a way of paying tribute to you and thanking you – I’m going to decree that Christmas be brought forward to 1 October,” Maduro stated during one of his frequent TV appearances.

The precarious leader faced with a host of political challenges promised Venezuelans a Christmas of “peace, happiness and security”.

Political unrest in Venezuela

Advertisment

Presidential elections were held in Venezuela in July, officially won by strongman Maduro. However, western media reports point to strong evidence indicating he actually lost the elections to his opposition rival Edmundo González.

Maduro’s refusal to release detailed voting results further raised concerns over the legitimacy of the polls. Furthermore, authorities in Venezuela issued an arrest warrant against González.

As reported by Bloomberg, the US is understood to have prepared a list of sanctions to be imposed on 15 senior administration figures for their alleged obstruction of “the holding of free and fair presidential elections” in Venezuela.

Advertisment

Watch: US Govt seizes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane, citing sanctions violations

Foreign Minister Yván Gil and Supreme Court President Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez Rodríguez could feature on the list.

Military officials who helped Maduro quell opposition and impose his own version of the election outcome may also face sanctions. The repression by the military led to the death of at least 20 people and the arrest of more than 1,700.

The US earlier this week also announced the seizure of a Venezuelan plane used by Maduro for international travel.

This is not the first time that Maduro has brought forward the official date of Christmas. Last year, he announced November 1 as the official Christmas date. In 2021, Maduro said Christmas will begin on October 4 to boost the country’s economy.

(With inputs from agencies)