{"id":2336621,"date":"2024-09-04T13:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T17:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maduro-declares-christmas-in-october-in-attempt-to-quell-domestic-strife-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-04T13:05:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T17:05:11","slug":"maduro-declares-christmas-in-october-in-attempt-to-quell-domestic-strife-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maduro-declares-christmas-in-october-in-attempt-to-quell-domestic-strife-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Maduro declares Christmas in October in attempt to quell domestic strife &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaduro-declares-christmas-in-october-in-attempt-to-quell-domestic-strife-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336621&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that Christmas will be celebrated earlier this year,\u2063 starting\u200c on October 1, amidst ongoing domestic unrest and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-job-approval-tumbles-below-50-after-afghanistan-pullout\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Job Approval Tumbles Below 50% After Afghanistan Pullout\">declining popularity<\/a>. This \u200ddeclaration comes following a contentious election that many viewed as fraudulent, leading to violent protests and a harsh crackdown \u2063by \u200dauthorities, resulting in significant arrests and several fatalities. In \u2063an effort to ease tensions, \u200bMaduro suggested that\u2063 the early \u2064celebration symbolizes\u2063 peace, \u2064although the specific implications of this decree remain unclear. Critics, including the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference, have expressed\u2062 skepticism, \u200darguing \u200bthat Christmas should not be\u200c politicized, while many citizens feel \u200bthe gesture is\u200c empty given the country&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-americans-demand-biden-admin-back-regime-change\/\" title=\"Iranian Americans Demand Biden Admin Back Regime Change\">dire economic conditions<\/a>.\u2063 Despite the backlash, some\u200b pro-government supporters defended the move, suggesting it enhances the festive\u2064 spirit during difficult times. This is not\u200c the\u200b first instance\u200c Maduro\u200d has opted to move Christmas earlier; a similar decree \u200doccurred during \u2063the \u200bCOVID-19 pandemic. The \u2064current announcement has been interpreted by some\u2064 as a\u2064 desperate attempt to distract\u200b from the mounting issues facing \u2064his\u200d administration.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Maduro declares Christmas in October in attempt to quell <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cher-wargames-ukraine-russia-conflict-on-twitter-putin-will-devour-sovereign-countries-till-he-resurrects-ussr\/\" title=\"Cher Wargames Ukraine-Russia Conflict on Twitter: &#039;Putin Will Devour Sovereign Countries Till He Resurrects USSR&#039;\">domestic strife<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1741997\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Venezuelan\">Venezuelan<\/a> President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Venezuelan\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a> declared Christmas will come early this year, in October, as he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-nyc-mayor-blows-up-at-critic-likens-her-to-slave-owner\/\" title=\"VIDEO: NYC Mayor&#039;s Explosive Response to Critic, Compares Her to Slave-Owner\">faces declining popularity<\/a> and domestic strife.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Maduro faced the biggest challenge to his 11-year rule in the past month after he claimed a landslide victory in an election dismissed by most as fraudulent. Violent protests and riots were quelled by a violent response from police and loyalist paramilitaries, which resulted in nearly 2,000 arrests and over a dozen deaths. The chaos has further isolated the socialist leader internationally.<\/p>\n<p>In a bid to ease tensions, Maduro decided to deck the halls early and decreed Christmas would take place two and a half months earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;September is coming, and I said: September already smells like Christmas,&rdquo; Maduro said Monday night on his weekly TV show,&nbsp;<em>Con Maduro+<\/em>. &ldquo;It smells like Christmas, it smells like Christmas. So this year, as a tribute to you and in appreciation of you, I am going to decree that Christmas will start on October 1. Christmas starts on October 1 for everyone. Christmas comes with peace.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s not exactly clear what this means, but it will likely feature decorations of public buildings and celebrations. The extension of Christmas cheer to the political opposition is unlikely &mdash; Maduro <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3141139\/venezuelan-authorities-seek-arrest-opposition-edmundo-gonzalez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ordered\">ordered<\/a> the arrest of the Venezuelan opposition leader just hours before his announcement.<\/p>\n<p>Many immediately greeted the declaration with skepticism, including the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference. The organization warned that one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar &ldquo;is not to be used for political or propaganda goals,&rdquo; and it would continue to be celebrated on Dec. 25.<\/p>\n<p>Other Venezuelans, who are struggling with poverty and rising costs of living, complained the move was a hollow gesture.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, parties, presents,&rdquo; Jose Ernesto Ruiz, a 57-year-old office worker, told the <em>Associated Press<\/em>. &ldquo;But without money and with this political crisis, who can believe that there will be an early Christmas?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are all worried about how we are going to put food on the table, how we are going to pay for the bus, send the children to school, and buy medicine when we need it,&rdquo; said Ines Quevedo, a 39-year-old secretary and mother.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think they will improve our salaries or pay us the &lsquo;aguinaldo,&rsquo;&rdquo; she added in reference to Christmas bonuses.<\/p>\n<p>However, the move boasted some defenders. Pro-government journalist Barry Cartaya said those criticizing it were being &ldquo;illogical&rdquo; and blinded by hatred.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Who can refuse to extend the most beautiful time of the year?&rdquo; he asked.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Maduro adelant&oacute; NAVIDAD para 1&deg; de octubre y amargados lo critican, argumentando que es una &#8220;distracci&oacute;n&#8221;. Su odio los hace reincidir en la il&oacute;gica porque desde 2018 se ha adelantado para noviembre u octubre. &iquest;Qui&eacute;n puede negarse a extender la &eacute;poca m&aacute;s linda del a&ntilde;o? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CvJLoFULSJ\">pic.twitter.com\/CvJLoFULSJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Barry Cartaya (@cartayabarry) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cartayabarry\/status\/1830913189690655065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This is not the first time Maduro has decreed Christmas be held earlier, as he made the same announcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current move, however, is looked down upon by many as desperate.<\/p>\n<p>Monday&rsquo;s announcement also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-biden-could-be-replaced-as-the-democratic-nominee-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How Biden could be replaced as the Democratic nominee - Washington Examiner\">isn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t the first Christmas-related move around the election and resulting crackdown. The General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, Venezuela&rsquo;s military counterintelligence agency, released a video showing arrests as part of Operation Tun Tun, also known as Operation Knock Knock, to the sound of &ldquo;Carol of the Bells.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maduro has made headlines for his erratic behavior amid the chaos surrounding the election. He has turned X CEO Elon Musk into his archrival by challenging him to a fight and claiming he&rsquo;s part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MyLordBebo\/status\/1828481727603581356\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Satanic cult\">satanic cult<\/a> worshipped by Adolf Hitler. In a state propaganda cartoon, Maduro&rsquo;s superhero alter ego harnessed the power of God to expel a demonic Musk to Mars.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In a new episode of &#8220;Super Bigote&#8221;, the superhero alterego of Nicol&aacute;s Maduro defeats the satanic Elon Musk by sending him to Mars with the power of God. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fm9xrjMFP2\">pic.twitter.com\/fm9xrjMFP2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Crazy Ass Moments in LatAm Politics (@AssLatam) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AssLatam\/status\/1826282971734880492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 21, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Another recurring rival is Argentinian President Javier Milei, who Maduro recently said at a press conference isn&rsquo;t a Homo sapien but rather a &ldquo;Homo Nazi.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1741997\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1741997\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that Christmas will be celebrated early this year, starting in October, as he grapples with waning popularity and internal unrest. This decision comes after a month of significant challenges to his 11-year presidency, following his controversial claim of a sweeping victory in an election widely regarded as fraudulent. The resulting violent protests were met with harsh crackdowns by police and loyalist paramilitary forces, leading to nearly 2,000 arrests and over a dozen fatalities. This turmoil has further alienated Maduro on the international stage.<\/p>\n<p>In an effort to alleviate tensions, Maduro proclaimed that Christmas festivities would commence two and a half months earlier than usual. During his weekly television program &#8220;Con Maduro+&#8221;, he stated, \u201cSeptember is coming, and I said: September already smells like Christmas&#8230; So this year&#8230; I am going to decree that Christmas will start on October 1.\u201d While it remains unclear what this declaration entails\u2014likely involving decorations on public buildings and celebrations\u2014the gesture is not expected to extend goodwill towards the political opposition; just hours before making the announcement, he ordered the arrest of an opposition leader.<\/p>\n<p>Many have reacted skeptically to this proclamation. The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference cautioned against using one of Christianity&#8217;s holiest days for political purposes while affirming that they would continue celebrating on December 25. Citizens struggling with poverty voiced their doubts about the sincerity of such a move. Jose Ernesto Ruiz expressed skepticism about celebrating without financial means: \u201cChristmas is supposed to be a time of joy&#8230; But without money&#8230; who can believe there will be an early Christmas?\u201d Ines Quevedo echoed these sentiments regarding daily struggles for basic necessities.<\/p>\n<p>Despite criticism from some quarters, pro-government journalist Barry Cartaya defended the initiative as illogical hatred from detractors who fail to appreciate extending joy during what should be &#8220;the most beautiful time of the year.&#8221; This isn&#8217;t Maduro&#8217;s first attempt at moving up Christmas celebrations; he previously did so during the COVID-19 pandemic but faces increased scrutiny now amid perceptions of desperation.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, recent events surrounding elections have included military operations accompanied by festive music\u2014a stark contrast highlighting ongoing tensions within Venezuela\u2019s political landscape. Amidst all this chaos, Maduro has also made headlines for bizarre behavior including challenging Elon Musk publicly while labeling him part of a satanic cult in state propaganda cartoons where he portrays himself as a superhero combating Musk\u2019s character<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2336622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Maduro-Christmas.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40080,40081,36612,32504,14099],"class_list":["post-2336621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-christmas-in-october","tag-domestic-strife","tag-maduro","tag-political-strategy","tag-venezuela"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Maduro-Christmas.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}