Maduro accuses hackers of trying to provoke a national blackout in Venezuela.

During a recent broadcast on the state channel VTV, President Nicolás Maduro made strong accusations regarding a supposed cyberattack that he claimed threatened to cause a nationwide blackout in Venezuela. According to Maduro, the threat originated from a social media account that he attributed to a group of hackers known as "Anonymous," which he described as an instrument in a war of hatred against the country. Maduro did not merely mention the account; he emphasized that its origins and financing are already known, although he did not provide specific details on this matter. Throughout his speech, the president seemed to connect this situation with an international plot, suggesting that there is a "war room" in the United States behind this attack, with the aim of destabilizing the Venezuelan electrical system. Dramatically, the president displayed a post from the account in question, which allegedly stated: "we apologize to the people of Venezuela for the attack that will hit the national electrical system." According to Maduro, such messages are evidence of the intention of anti-Venezuelan groups to sow chaos in the country. This accusation is set against a backdrop of political and economic tensions that have characterized Venezuela in recent years. The government's reaction to the blackout was immediate. Maduro highlighted that more than 90% of the country's supermarkets managed to remain operational thanks to their self-generation systems. He also stated that 100% of popular markets and nearly 60% of general commerce were able to continue functioning, indicating a certain level of resilience in the face of the electrical crisis. However, the situation was serious, as the blackout affected most of Venezuela's states, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the citizens. The authorities, as the president mentioned, are working on the Guri reservoir to restore normal electrical service, although no details were provided about the extent of recovery in the different regions of the country. One element that cannot be overlooked is the context surrounding these blackouts. In March 2019, Venezuela had already experienced a similar event that left a large part of the population without electricity for four days. On that occasion, the government also blamed the opposition and international actors, such as the United States and Colombia, for being behind this attack on national infrastructure. In his speech, Maduro tried to convey a message of reassurance, stating that the self-generation capacity of basic services, such as healthcare, was being maintained. In fact, he mentioned a specific case in which a hospital in Caracas performed a "bone marrow transplant," highlighting that the healthcare system had been practically operational despite the electrical crisis. However, the lack of detailed information about the restoration of service in different states has generated uncertainty among the population. Citizens, accustomed to crises of this nature, find themselves questioning when they will be able to enjoy a stable and lasting electrical service. Maduro concluded his speech by calling for calm and emphasizing the need to protect the "right to peace" of the Venezuelan people. In a country where distrust towards the authorities and political polarization are palpable, the president's words may not be enough to assuage the fears of a population that has suffered through years of crisis. The situation remains critical, and investigations into these threats will continue, as promised by Maduro. However, the everyday reality of Venezuelans, marked by scarcity and lack of basic services, presents a complicated scenario for the country's stability in the near future. The lingering question is whether the government's statements and promises can reverse the perception of crisis and discontent that prevails in Venezuela.