Venezuelan President Urges Citizens to Use Less Electricity

“I always think a woman looks better when she just runs her fingers through her hair and lets it dry naturally. It’s just an idea I have,” said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on April 6 as he addressed the country’s worsening power shortages. Along with recommending reduced appliance usage, Maduro declared every Friday in April and May a federal holiday, reported El País.

The decree comes after a severe drought, coupled with what pundits cite as a lack of investment and maintenance in energy infrastructure, plunged the country into a spiraling energy crisis. According to Newsweek, the South American nation depends on hydropower for 60 percent of its electricity; yet, the country’s dams continue to face decreasing water levels despite the government’s measures. Freddy Brito, Vice Minister for the Development of the Energy Sector and Industry contended that high temperatures have provoked higher use of air conditioning. In a country where the energy sector requires heavy subsidies, demand for electricity remains steady.

The shortened work week excludes food-industry workers, as Venezuela already faces widespread shortages amid an economic crisis that has raised food prices by 315 percent in one year, reports Time magazine. Supermarkets see long lines of customers that often last over five hours; a four-day work week in the food sector would likely have exacerbated the situation.

According to NPR, the Venezuelan opposition criticized the government’s measures, deeming them reckless in the face of a worsening recession, shortages of foods and medicines, and triple-digit inflation. “For Maduro, the best way to resolve this crisis is to reduce the country’s productivity,” said Caracas city councillor Jesus Armas. “Fridays are free bread and circuses.”