In Venezuela, residents are attempting to keep things normal in Caracas and beyond as the first workweek without Nicolas Maduro leading the country started on Monday.
A Caracas resident, who asked to remain anonymous due to fears of reprisals from socialist groups, spoke with Breitbart News on Monday morning. All those interviewed indicated they would continue their typical daily routines at their jobs.
Someone employed at a retail store mentioned that while some shops might close early, the rest of the day’s activities would continue as usual. Another individual employed at a public hospital informed Breitbart News that there had been discussions about potentially reducing staff days off this week in case of an “emergency situation,” but as of Monday morning, there were no changes to the usual work schedule.
A witness from western Venezuela, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, described a calm atmosphere in the town, noting that their family planned to go about their normal weekend activities. According to them, their daughter went for a walk and exercise just as she would on any other Monday.
Maduro, referred to as Venezuela’s “first combatant,” and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained early on Saturday and handed over to the United States. They face multiple criminal charges linked to narco-terrorism.
In contrast to some places worldwide, where the Venezuelan diaspora openly celebrated the end of Maduro’s regime, those still in Venezuela must exercise extreme caution. While Maduro and his wife are in U.S. custody awaiting trial in New York, the entire oppressive structure of Venezuela’s socialist regime remains in place as of now.
Just a week prior to Maduro’s arrest, the socialist National Assembly passed a law that would penalize supporters of “internationally unlawful acts” against the government with sentences of up to 20 years in prison. The law was hastily drafted and enacted by Socialist Party legislators shortly after President Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
According to reports, on Monday, the socialist government issued an emergency decree that President Maduro supposedly “signed” before his arrest, declaring a “state of emergency” across the nation, citing “the need for internal order, national defense, and the protection of the population in extraordinary external circumstances.”
Article 5 of the decree mandates that national, state, and local police forces immediately seek out and detain “any individual involved in promoting or supporting an armed attack by the United States against the Republic.”
Additionally, since 2017, the ruling Socialists have enforced questionable “anti-hate speech” laws to severely punish dissent, prompting Venezuelans to practice self-censorship to avoid repercussions from officials. For instance, in November, the socialist government sentenced a 65-year-old physician to prison for sending voice messages criticizing Maduro.
On Sunday, Argentine news agency Infobae reported that the streets of Caracas were nearly deserted with “little traffic,” yet shoppers were forming long lines in stores. The “criminal incident” leading to Maduro’s capture had left several parts of Caracas without electricity over the weekend, although power was restored by Sunday night, as reported by Venezuela’s state electricity company Corpolerec.
Local media indicated that on Saturday, following the U.S. military operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture, many Venezuelans rushed to supermarkets to stock up on essentials, while traffic remained light throughout the day.
A man from Peru residing in Caracas described the situation, speaking anonymously to tv peru on Sunday. He noted that the U.S. military action had “caused anxiety and concern among the locals” but also highlighted the commendable response from residents afterward.
“Most Venezuelans behaved admirably. There was a prevailing sense of sanity, and people went out the following day to gather supplies,” they commented, noting that many stores remained closed for safety, resulting in long lines for essentials. “[Sunday] was a sign that things are starting to return to normal,” the man added.
Another local, referred to as “Dina,” told BBC on Saturday that, while she appreciated the U.S. for removing Maduro, she chose not to disclose her real name due to ongoing tensions in Caracas.
A different resident, Jorge, expressed gratitude for the “support from President Trump and the United States,” but shared concerns about future challenges. “What’s next now that Maduro is gone?” he wondered aloud. “There are no assurances regarding the future. It’s all quite uncertain. We’re left in a worrying situation about the coming days.”
