Venezuela's Maduro Moves Christmas to October

Above: Nicolás Maduro cheers just before entering the Miraflores Palace during the 'Gran Marcha Mundial por la Paz' in his support on August 17, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. Image copyright: Alfredo Lasry R/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this week announced a decree bringing forward Christmas festivities to Oct. 1 this year "in homage" and "gratitude" to his countrymen.

  • This is not unprecedented, as Maduro has declared an early holiday season on at least three occasions since taking office in 2013 — on Nov. 1, 2017, on Oct. 15, 2020, and on Oct. 4, 2021.


The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Pushing Christmas earlier in the year to distract the people of Venezuela has become a pattern when Maduro is against the ropes. It's not surprising that the Venezuelan dictator has rescheduled the holiday season to Oct. 1 this year to try and divert attention while he tightens his grip on power in the midst of a challenge to his regime.

Establishment-critical narrative

It's no coincidence that well-known media outlets serving the semi-official US misinformation machine are hyping up the fact that Christmas celebrations will start in Venezuela on Oct. 1 now that the South American country has been brought back into the global spotlight. This is all part of a desperate, US-backed coup attempt.


Metaculus Prediction


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