Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro declares Christmas to begin in October

Despite the ongoing political unrest and the arrest of thousands of critics, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro seems to have turned his attention to something entirely different: Christmas.

“It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas,” the 61-year-old remarked during his weekly television show on Monday night. He went on to announce, “That’s why this year, as a tribute to all of you and in gratitude, I’m declaring an early Christmas starting October 1.”

The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference quickly criticised this move, cautioning against using the holiday for political or propaganda purposes. They pointed out in a statement that Christmas traditionally begins on December 25.

This isn’t the first time Maduro has declared an early Christmas—he did so during the COVID-19 pandemic, though never this early. Despite the tense political atmosphere, Maduro insists the season will bring “peace, happiness, and security.”

Protests have erupted over the contested presidential election in July, where Maduro claimed a third term in office. Over 2,000 people have been arrested since.

Maduro’s declaration of an early Christmas, in the midst of Venezuela’s deepening political crisis, has been seen by many as a tactic to distract from the country’s troubles and bolster his own political agenda.