Venezuelan Pres. Maduro Gives Annual Message Highlighting Gains

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro presented his annual message Sunday at the Supreme Court in Caracas, where he announced a series of economic reforms to tackle the 'economic war' that the South American nation faces.

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"This year we had a bit over USD$5 billion, and we didn't close one school or laid off one worker," said Maduro, who remembered the budget before the drop in oil prices was over USD$43 billion.

Maduro announced a new Economic Emergency decree to keep the economic and productive stability in the country and gave a report on political, economic, social and administrative actions of his government in 2016.

Maduro also announced he will open eight exchange houses along the frontier with Colombia, and extend the time that high denomination bills are valid in the country.

The president described how Venezuela had paid 60,000,000,000 in foreign currency in 2016, honoring all financial obligations with punctuality.

Maduro couldn't present his official message at the national assembly since the legislative branch is in contempt for swearing in three legislators whose election were deemed irregular due to corruption allegations.

"I regret not being able to give this message from the National Assembly as it appertains," said Maduro.

Social investment resulted in an increase in salaries, the delivery of laptops to students, payment to pensioners, as well as continued financing of social missions.

"Placing the human being at the center of public policies is a characteristic of the Bolivarian Revolution," Maduro said. He added that 71.4 percent of the national budget was invested in social programs in 2016, a world record.

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He stated that 359,000 housing units were built in 2016, bringing the total to 1,350,000 total housing units provided by the housing mission since its founding in 2011.

Maduro also denounced the assembly's actions of announcing, without legal backing, that he has allegedly abandoned his office as president of Venezuela.

"I am exercising each and every one of my constitutional responsibilities day by day," said Maduro, "There will be justice against this contempt of the constitution."

He also said the government and the opposition need to continue dialogues, to end the political and economic crisis in the country.

He reiterated that he and the Venezuelan people want peace.