A woman who bashed President
Nicolas Maduro on the head with a mango has been promised a new house
for her troubles in a surreal tropical tale that has gone viral in
Venezuela.
The
52-year-old president was driving a bus through a crowd last weekend in
the central state of Aragua when someone in the crowd tossed the fruit
at him.
"It says: 'If you
can, call me'," the former bus driver said later during the week, as he
displayed the fruit with a name and phone number scrawled on it on
television.
"Marleny Olivo had a problem with her house. (Officials) called her. She
was scared. She couldn't believe it was true. ... I've approved an
apartment for you, Marleny, as part of the 'Grand Venezuelan Housing
Mission'," he added, vowing to eat the mango.
Venezuela's ever ebullient cybersphere did not miss a
beat, with the president's populist gesture drawing admiration and
derision, plus plenty of jokes.
"If for a mango they give you apartments, then you know
what to do: throw him a pineapple!" quipped Dolar Today, a website that
quotes the black market for dollars and is hated by Maduro.
Like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, Maduro
collects heaps of petitions during trips, although most are scribbled
on paper rather than hurled at him on fruit.
In a habit that delights many poor supporters but
irritates critics, Maduro - like Chavez - often personally gives away
homes, appliances or pensions to low-income Venezuelans.
However, lacking Chavez's charm and good fortune with high
oil prices, Maduro's popularity has plummeted since he took office.
oughly 28.2 percent of
Venezuelans approved of his management of the country in April,
according to pollster Datanalisis. That was up from March's 24.7
percent, likely due to his campaign against U.S. sanctions on seven
government officials, but still nearly half the level when he became
president.
The
survey also said 45.8 percent plan to vote for opposition candidates in
this year's parliamentary election, while only 25 percent support the
ruling Socialists.
Shortages of food and medicine caused by strict currency controls
have taken a heavy toll, particularly the poor, who traditionally have
supported "Chavismo."
"A mango shortage is coming, let's line up to throw them at Maduro and get a new house!" one Twitter user joked.
Source : Yahoo News
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