In an unusual move, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced that Christmas will be celebrated in October this year, a decision that comes in the wake of a highly disputed election and escalating political tension. The announcement, made during Maduro’s weekly television show on Monday, is seen as an attempt to bolster public support amid a deepening crisis.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, declared that the early celebration is meant to create a season of “peace, happiness, and security” for the Venezuelan people. “It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas,” he stated, justifying the unprecedented shift by saying it was a gesture of gratitude to the nation.

This move follows a divisive election held on July 28, where both Maduro’s ruling party and the opposition claimed victory. The official results, endorsed by Venezuela’s Supreme Court—loyal to Maduro—declared him the winner, but international observers and the opposition have rejected the outcome as fraudulent. The United Nations and the Carter Center, which monitored the election, criticized the results, citing a lack of credibility.

Critics argue that the early Christmas declaration is a distraction from Maduro’s repressive actions post-election. Hours before the announcement, an arrest warrant was issued for Edmundo González, the opposition’s presidential candidate, who has since gone into hiding. Over 2,000 people, including journalists, politicians, and aid workers, have been detained in a crackdown on dissent, drawing widespread condemnation.

Despite Maduro’s efforts to instill festive cheer, many Venezuelans remain skeptical. “Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, parties, presents,” said José Ernesto Ruiz, a resident of Caracas. “Without money and with this political crisis, who can believe that there will be an early Christmas?”

The U.S. has condemned the arrest warrant against González, with National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby accusing Maduro of clinging to power through force. The U.S. has responded by reinforcing sanctions, including the seizure of a plane used by Maduro. 

Maduro’s latest move, though intended to boost morale, has done little to quell the unrest brewing in the country.