A woman who pelted the Venezuelan President with a mango as he was driving a bus through a crowd has been rewarded with a new home.
The 52-year-old said a message had been scrawled on the fruit saying: “If you can, call me”.
“Marleny Olivo had a problem with her house. [Officials] called her. She was scared. She couldn’t believe it was true … I’ve approved an apartment for you, Marleny, as part of the Grand Venezuelan Housing Mission” he told reporters.
He also indicated he would eat the mango.
Like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, Maduro often personally gives away homes, appliances and even pensions to his poorest supporters, often to the infuriation of his critics.
But unlike Chavez, despite the giveaways, Maduro has been unable to stop his popularity plummeting since taking office.
According to one pollster, Datanalisis, only 28.2 per cent Venezuelans approved of his management of the economy, nearly half the level when he became president.
The move has raised eyebrows on Venezuelan’s cybersphere, where critics were quick to make jokes, reports The Independent.
Dolar Today, a website that quotes the black market for dollars, quipped: “If for a mango they give you apartments, then you know what to do: throw him a pineapple!”
“A mango shortage is coming, let’s line up to throw them at Maduro and get a new house!” another Twitter user joked.
