Maduro Declares Christmas Early Amidst Crackdown on Protests in Venezuela
Christmas in Venezuela will begin in October, president Nicolas Maduro has decreed, as reported by CNN.
“September smells like Christmas!” Maduro exclaimed on his weekly television show, announcing the early start to the holiday season. “This year and to honor you all, to thank you all, I am going to decree the beginning of Christmas on October 1. Christmas arrived for everyone, in peace, joy and security!”
This isn’t the first time Maduro has extended the official Christmas celebration, but it is the earliest start yet. The move comes as Venezuela grapples with the aftermath of a contested presidential election in July, which saw Maduro claim a third term despite opposition claims.
Just hours before Maduro’s announcement, authorities issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, accusing him of “crimes associated with terrorism.” Gonzalez has been accused of involvement with an opposition website that published results from the disputed election, which experts claim show Maduro lost by a significant margin. The US ahave demanded that Venezuela release granular voting data to verify the outcome.
Following the election, protests have been met with severe repression, with over 2,400 arrests and people fleeing the country.
Maduro has been at the forefront of the crackdown, ordering the opening of two new prisons for detained protesters and publicly advocating for the imprisonment of all those protesting in the streets.
