Maduro will regulate the sale of naphthas in Venezuela

Caracas

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced a regulation for the sale of gasoline – the cheapest in the world – at a congress of the ruling party that paradoxically debates to relax rigid controls from the economy to overcome the crisis

Although he did not mention a rise, Maduro said that current fuel prices do not cover production costs and encourage smuggling, so he proposed to regularize his sale by the "country map", an electronic map "The essence, saying that it is given is little, we must go to a rational use (…) and that will have an impact on the changes in all car transport, "said the president of the forum of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) last Saturday.

To do this, Maduro said that between August 3 and August 5 a census will be conducted – through the "country map" – e I own a vehicle.

Venezuela has the cheapest fuel in the world: with a dollar you can pay more than three million liters and the socialist government denounces that the mafias smuggle it into other countries .

Last week, August 20, it will eliminate five currency zeros – two more than expected – and a new currency cone will appear, amid inflation that, according to the IMF, could reach 1,000 000% this year.

the new currency of lower value, 0.5 bolivars (50 000 bolivars today), could be purchased 50 000 liters of naphtha. Analysts believe that this distortion makes it very likely that the government will be forced to adjust the price of fuel.

The increase in fuel prices is a taboo subject in the oil country. On February 17, 2016, Maduro lifted it for the first time in two decades to 1 bolívar per liter

In the forum, which at the request of the president will last until August 30, the l & # 39; Possible elimination of controls is discussed. the economy, which badysts said generated the serious crisis that triggered poverty and pushed hundreds of thousands to emigrate.

The Minister of Education, Elías Jaua, confirmed that the gradual increase in fuel prices will be addressed, and said that Another sensitive issue will be discussed: the exchange rate regime, since the l & # 39; 39; State monopolizes the currencies since 2003. While the government controls the currencies of the economy, dependent on imports and in severe crisis – shortage of food and medicine – the black market brands the price of several commodities .

The congress facility, which takes place every four years, takes place amid a verbal cross between Maduro and Chavismo leaders who have requested flexib Illicit state interventionist policy

The president, who badures that inflation is part of an "economic war" of the opposition and Washington to try to overthrow it, acknowledged Saturday serious production failures in the companies d & # 39; State. (AFP and EFE)