The announcement of early Christmas festivities coincided with the Venezuelan Attorney General ordering the arrest of opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia on alleged terrorism-related charges.

As Christmas approaches, many citizens are uncertain if their bonuses will suffice to purchase dinner ingredients amid a political crisis and skyrocketing food prices.

Critics argue that this decision to advance Christmas celebrations is a strategy to distract from the ongoing pressing issues facing Venezuela.

The international community, particularly the United States, largely does not recognize Maduro's re-election, which has been a point of contention since he took office in 2013.

In his announcement, Maduro claimed that the early festivities are a tribute to the people, promising a Christmas filled with 'peace, happiness, and security.'

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced that Christmas festivities will begin on October 1 this year, marking the earliest celebration in the country's history.

This announcement comes amid allegations that Maduro falsely claimed victory in the July presidential election against opposition rival Edmundo González, who is believed to have won.

The recent presidential elections held on July 28 resulted in Maduro being declared the winner with over 51% of the votes, despite the opposition claiming their candidate received nearly 70%.

The opposition coalition asserts that the presidential vote was stolen, with evidence suggesting Maduro lost by a significant margin, prompting demands from the US and neighboring governments for detailed voting data.

Maduro's controversial victory has drawn widespread criticism from both the opposition and international observers, who have raised concerns about the electoral tribunal's independence.

Following the elections, the government faced backlash for a violent crackdown on post-election protests, resulting in over 20 deaths and the imprisonment of approximately 1,700 individuals.

Despite his festive claims, Maduro has intensified his crackdown on dissent, opening new prisons for detained protesters and encouraging the imprisonment of critics.