These are the 5 most important news from Venezuela on Friday, May 17, 2024.
1. Maduro installs his command and denounces being censored on social media
President Nicolás Maduro presided over the installation of his campaign headquarters amidst calls for «thousands» of popular mobilizations. He said he was «winning,» but insisted that ensuring victory was necessary before denouncing that his announcements are being censored on social media. Read more here.
2. Network sold passports to Venezuelans in Colombia
Colombian prosecutors have dismantled a criminal network involving officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Registry of the neighboring country, which was dedicated to issuing false documents that were sold to Venezuelan and Dominican migrants, including passports, authorities said. Read more here.
3. 82 deaths from traffic accidents in April counted
The Road Safety Observatory (OSV) presented a report on traffic accidents recorded in April 2024, where they counted 340 accidents, including crashes, collisions, and vehicle rollovers. It also indicated that at least 82 people died in these incidents. Read more here.
4. Demand to avoid impunity in case of transition
The Alliance of Relatives of Victims of Venezuela (Alfavic) has stated that its members expect to be consulted on a possible pact or negotiation for a transition with the government of Nicolás Maduro to achieve «peace without impunity» in pending cases. Read more here.
5. Contactless technology advances in bank cards
The president of the Venezuelan Banking Association (ABV), Pedro Pacheco, revealed that by the end of 2024, most banks in the country will be able to implement «contactless» technology, allowing consumers to swipe their debit cards at point of sale without having to insert it into the machine. Read more here.
Dollar price in Venezuela today
The official exchange rate in Venezuela is Bs. 36.62 per dollar, while the parallel market dollar, a reference in the informal economy, is averaging Bs. 40.
