Venezuelans are expressing frustration over President Nicolás Maduro’s $4 Holy Week bonus, highlighting the inadequacy of the gesture amid the country’s deepening economic crisis.
At a Glance
- Maduro’s government issues $4 Holy Week Bonus via Fatherland System
- Venezuela faces renewed hyperinflation and widespread poverty
- Over 7.7 million Venezuelans have led the country since 2015
- Opposition leader Juan Guaidó was removed from his interim role in 2022
- Citizens struggle to afford basic necessities despite government stipends
A Token Gesture Amid Economic Turmoil
To mark Holy Week 2025, Nicolás Maduro’s administration announced a one-time $4 bonus to participants of the Fatherland system, a government-controlled welfare network supported by Chinese technology. Maduro described the payment as a symbol of “love, peace, and justice,” but many saw it as a political maneuver rather than practical aid, as reported by Breitbart.
In a country where inflation renders most staples unaffordable, the bonus is largely symbolic. One resident noted that a kilogram of fish costs nearly $7—almost double the entire Holy Week stipend—underscoring how out of touch the policy is with everyday reality.
Economic Crisis Deepens
Venezuela’s economic spiral continues to deepen. Inflation, estimated between 180% and 200%, has devastated wages and crippled access to basic goods. Following Maduro’s contentious 2024 reelection, renewed U.S. sanctions have slashed oil exports, worsening the fiscal crisis. According to BBC News, these sanctions have cut Venezuela’s main source of revenue, leaving the state increasingly reliant on erratic subsidies and token gestures like this bonus.
Watch AP’s coverage on Venezuela’s economic and political collapse at Venezuela’s economic collapse continues as elections approach.
Personal Toll of Government Policy
For many Venezuelans, the bonus is a cruel reminder of how far the country has fallen. “I have cried because I have not had to eat,” said Cruz Brito, describing the daily struggle to survive. Despite her deep faith, Brito admitted that if conditions don’t improve, she may be forced to join the millions who have fled the country. Her story, shared by AP News, echoes the hardship of countless others.
Another citizen, Nolli Fernández, shared how government bonuses barely keep her afloat. “A kilo of fish is about seven dollars, more than my pension,” she told Breitbart. “Now one has to think well how to make do with what little one has.”
A Nation in Flight
More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015, escaping poverty, repression, and an increasingly unlivable economy. Although opposition leader Juan Guaidó was once internationally recognized, he was ousted from his interim role in 2022, further solidifying Maduro’s grip on power. The political deadlock, detailed in BBC’s reporting, has left Venezuelans with few avenues for change.
As basic needs remain unmet, and political promises ring hollow, Maduro’s $4 Holy Week bonus stands not as a gift—but as a grim symbol of a government increasingly out of touch with its people.
