Venezuela's Maduro Shows Off Christmas Decor as He Calls for Early Start to Festive Season

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has stood by his summer announcement of an early start to the Christmas season, releasing a video showing the presidential palace already decorated for the holiday.

“Christmas came to the Miraflores Palace and to our entire country, with the joy and details that characterize this special time,” a tweet from Maduro said. “In Venezuela we are going to have a happy Christmas, full of lights and color.”

Maduro’s hopes for the season come with Venezuela in its fourth year of hyperinflation and its seventh year of recession, local media reported. Credit: Nicolás Maduro via Storyful