Caracas-January 24, 2023

The Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro expressed

About his support for the plans of Brazil and Argentina to adopt a common currency, about his desire for his country to join this project.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva, newly elected for a second term, announced the proposal to create a single currency between his country and Argentina during his visit to Buenos Aires, which began on Sunday.

Maduro spoke to thousands of his supporters, hours after organizing another protest against his administration, where demonstrators took to the streets to demand better salaries.

He said that there is a plan to protect the income of workers in the next few months, without going into more details.

Maduro accused Venezuela's" right wing "of being anti-government and making it look like"the spiral of violence has started again".

Similar to the recent protests, public sector workers have called for demonstrations in Caracas to demand a significant wage increase, to help restore purchasing power, undermined by inflation and currency devaluation.

South American leaders are expected to discuss the common currency proposal at the summit of the regional bloc, "CELAC", in Buenos Aires on January 24.