Venezuela: Citizens demand elections and wage increases amid economic crisis

Venezuelan citizens are intensifying demands for presidential elections and the payment of year-end bonuses based on full salaries. According to data from Meganálisis, 95.1% of the population reports no improvement in their quality of life, while 85.3% express distrust in current dialogue processes.

Economic instability remains severe, with inflation significantly eroding purchasing power. Workers in the health, education, and retirement sectors have rejected government proposals for wage increases that are conditioned on GDP growth targets for 2027, calling the offer insufficient for current needs.

On the political front, 78.6% of the population is calling for immediate presidential elections. Following her return to the country, opposition leader María Corina Machado has proposed a roadmap to ensure democratic certainty, including the designation of a new Supreme Tribunal of Justice and reforms to the National Electoral Council.

In a notable shift in rhetoric, government official Delcy Rodríguez has used terms such as elections, guarantees, and international observation, stating that elections should be held with the world as a witness and involving a renewed electoral authority.