(1 Oct 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela – 01 October 2024
1. Various of a big Christmas tree atop of an avenue of downtown Caracas
2. Laura Cuberos taking a photo of her 5 year-old daughter with Christmas tree
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura Cuberos, taking photos of Christmas tree:
"Well, traditions have changed, that’s what I can say. But I think its alright, now we have Christmas earlier. Not just one but two months before Christmas."
4. People on the street, traffic
5. People sitting in square with Christmas tree in the middle
6. Christmas decorations on the street
7. Christmas decorations on government building
8. Various of Desiré Aguiar, 32, merchant, sitting in square decorated with Christmas ornaments
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Desiré Aguiar, merchant:
"I see it as very bad because we are in October, so imagine if the Christmas bonus is paid ahead, then in December we won’t have anything. I think it’s very wrong. Christmas in October? Halloween hasn’t even happened yet and we already have Christmas?"
10. Various of Halloween and Christmas decorations in store
11. People sitting in a square decorated with Christmas decor
STORYLINE:
Christmas has kicked off earlier than ever in Venezuela this year, following a decree by President Nicolás Maduro that heralded in the festive season on October 1st.
Streets and buildings in Caracas were adorned with Christmas ornaments, as people went about their daily business.
Maduro, in power since 2013, has declared the early arrival of Christmas before – but never this early.
Amid turmoil and tensions after a highly contested presidential election that both the ruling party and its opponents claim to have won, the government has said its time to turn the page on the election chapter and carry on “with peace, happiness and security.”
Some got caught up in the beauty of a Christmas tree on an avenue of downtown Caracas.
Laura Cuberos took photos of her 5 year-old daughter by the tree before heading for school.
But not everyone seems eager to start singing Christmas carols.
Merchant Desiré Aguiar sits on a quiet square decorated with giant Christmas decorations as pigeons fly amid the stillness of the morning.
She said all she feels is "great sadness."
"Christmas in October? Halloween hasn’t even happened yet and we already have Christmas?" she said.
“It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas,” Maduro said at the beginning of September during his weekly television show, saying he would decree Christmas on the 1st of October this year.
Ruling party-loyal electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 election without showing any detailed results to back up their claim as they did in previous presidential elections.
But the lack of transparency has drawn international condemnation against Maduro and his allies, while the main opposition faction has presented electronic copies of its own electoral tallies showing that its candidate, Edmundo González got the most votes.
Protests against Maduro’s proclamation erupted after the election, and the government responded by arresting several people. More than 2,000 people — including journalists, politicians and aid workers — have been arrested since then.
AP Video shot by Juan Arraez
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