Caracas, Venezuela. The police fired tear gas this Thursday at demonstrators protesting for salary improvements in a march towards the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuelaconfirmed an AFP team.
Mass demonstrations have been a rarity in Venezuela for almost two years due to the wave of repression that followed opposition protests against the disputed re-election of Nicolás Maduro in 2024.
This Thursday, some 2,000 workers on the streets rejected a promise of salary improvements made the day before by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, considering that it only included state bonuses and did not affect benefits and other benefits.
“They are afraid that the people will go to Miraflores!” “Let’s go to Miraflores!” protesters shouted at the security forces. Riot police officers tried to contain them with tear gas and shields in the center of Caracas, a few kilometers from the Miraflores palace.
The minimum wage in Venezuela is 130 bolivars ($0.27) compared to an annual inflation that exceeds 600%. And although income can reach 150 dollars with state bonuses without impact on benefits and other benefits, it is insufficient compared to the 645 dollars that, according to private estimates, the basic family food basket costs.
“Enough of the deception, of the increase in salaries. They want to put as salary an increase in the bonuses given by the government. That is totally unprecedented,” Mauricio Ramos, a 71-year-old retiree, told AFP.
Delcy Rodríguez assumed power on an interim basis after Maduro’s capture in a US military operation on January 3. He governs under strong pressure from Washington, which has claimed to be in charge of the country and the sale of oil.
He promoted an oil reform and is preparing another mine reform that opens the doors to foreign companies, also an amnesty law that anticipated the release of hundreds of political prisoners, in addition to promising salary improvements.
