VENEZUELA

The Executive branch announced on September 21 that the country is to enter the stage of easing economic activities until Sunday, September 27. The measure enables 24 sectors of the economy to operate during restricted hours, such as banking and transport services and supermarkets. In other news, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Indira Alfonzo, reported that the legislative elections scheduled for December 6 could be held over several days to avoid crowding. The CNE is expected to issue a decision on the matter in the coming weeks.

“We are going to ease, over the course of 7 days, the different economic sectors back into activity to boost family and national economy,” said the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. The municipalities located on the border with Colombia are exempt from the lockdown relaxation measures.

Meanwhile, the head of the CNE said that “we are considering the possibility of holding the elections over two days as a measure to look after people’s health.” It is worth remembering that the legislative elections of December 6 have been rejected by part of the international community and the Venezuelan opposition, on the grounds that they are illegitimate.