The first cracks in Delcy's reign in Venezuela?

In recent hours, it has been interesting to monitor the protests that have broken out in Venezuela demanding a wage increase, given that the minimum wage (130 bolívares) has been frozen for four years. Back then, it was equivalent to 30 dollars; today it is less than 30 cents. The government assigns other income that should, in principle, be "complementary", but, in practice, is the very basis of all income, and which does not count toward labor benefits since they are bonuses.

"I announce that on May 1st we will make an increase, and that increase will be responsible," proclaimed interim president Delcy Rodríguez yesterday. She was catapulted to the Miraflores throne by the Trump administration after the violent seizure of Nicolás Maduro last January 3. Now, this is the first major fire Rodríguez has to put out, having until now walked a red carpet largely because Washington itself boosted her stance and has removed much of the seven-year-old sanctions.

The White House maintains effective control over Venezuelan crude and has already carried out several commercial operations, whose monetary results have been mainly transferred to Caracas. The idea is that this will have a trickle-down effect, but so far it seems insufficient. The total value of bonuses increased by thirty dollars last month, based on income specifically received from the sale of fuel oil.

"Our immediate, medium, and long-term objective is to recover workers' income sustainably and gradually through productive growth in both the hydrocarbon and mining areas, which generate immediate income," said Rodríguez, who has so far complied with Trump's demands. Police were repressing with pepper spray around noon those who tried to approach Miraflores, and cordoning off the area.

One protester said he feels humiliated and mistreated by his income level. "We come in peace, we came to tell Delcy that we want a decent wage, a fair wage," he told EFE. The protests appear to be organic, this is: not pushed or fueled by the opposition. We will see whether Trump, who so praises Rodríguez, finally helps her a bit more.

Source for the image in the cover.