Maduro Claims 2026 Has Already Begun in Venezuela

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro made a striking statement on Thursday, asserting that 2026 has “already begun” in the country. He shared this declaration during a cabinet meeting that was broadcast by state media.

Maduro’s proclamation ties into his newly introduced Plan 2026. He argues that the country is actively preparing for the upcoming year, suggesting that current efforts will enable a strong start come January 1st, paving the way for a “peaceful and prosperous homeland.” It’s quite a bold claim, and you can’t help but wonder—how does he define progress?

“How have we progressed in the last 23 weeks of threats? How have we progressed?” he questioned rhetorically, seeking to emphasize his point.

He continued by expressing gratitude, thanking God for the strength he believes his administration has received and recognizing the collaboration between the military and police to maintain peace within Venezuela.

Reports from Argentinian newspaper “Clarín” detailed that Plan 2026 includes “at least” seven guiding principles aimed at fostering this vision of a peaceful and prosperous Venezuela. Among those principles is a focus on combating what Maduro refers to as “fake news,” highlighting the regime’s longstanding accusations of misinformation and its suppression of dissenting voices.

Additionally, Maduro announced the formation of a “communications team” intended to work across over 5,300 Venezuelan communities. His aim here is to ensure ongoing government engagement with local policies—something he deems essential for a state “in transition to socialism.”

Interestingly, the Maduro regime has been entrenched in power since February 2, 1999. Nearly 27 years have passed, yet it continuously asserts that it’s still “building socialism.”

Amid increasing tensions with the United States, Maduro also indicated that security measures would be heightened nationwide. He has frequently accused the U.S. government of attempting to “steal” Venezuelan resources and even planning an “invasion” to oust him.

This isn’t the first time Maduro has made unusual claims about calendar dates. In fact, he has a history of unilaterally shifting the start of the Christmas season to suit his preferences. For example, he declared that Christmas would commence on October 1, a significant departure from global Catholic tradition that typically observes Advent in December leading up to Christmas on the 25th.

Earlier this year, he rationalized this rescheduling as a means to “benefit the national economy” and “protect the well-being” of the populace.

The government officially kicked off this “Christmas season” on October 1 with a series of events, including fireworks at a location known as El Helicoid. This site, once envisioned as a drive-through mall in the 1950s, has since transformed into a notorious center for the detention and torture of political prisoners.