CARACAS, Venezuela — Socialism has embraced Barbie, just in time for Christmas.
Mothers, grandmothers and beaming little girls are grabbing armfuls of the dolls in stores across Caracas, taking advantage of the government’s order that large chains sell the plastic figurines at fire-sale prices.
No sooner had saleswoman Crystal Casanova begun mounting a display of gleaming pink boxes than women descended. Within minutes, the entire stock was gone, with the dolls selling for as little as $2.50.
Venezuela’s socialist government has long imposed price caps on essential products, from milk to laundry detergent and threatened merchants who hoard goods or sell them at unfairly high margins with jail time.
Now President Nicolas Maduro is making the Barbie doll, often derided by leftists as a training tool for capitalist consumerism, a highlight of this year’s “Operation Merry Christmas,” which he said was an effort to prevent speculators from ruining the holidays.
The toy isn’t the only product affected by the initiative. Across town from the Barbie bonanza, the government is selling big-ticket products directly to shoppers at a fraction of what they usually cost.
Venezuelans have been camping out for a shot at buying plasma TVs, computers and refrigerators at a government-run fair that began this month. It’s the second year that the administration has sponsored this kind of Christmas special.
Business leaders say that mandatory discounts on products sometimes force retailers to sell at a loss, discouraging imports and feeding shortages. Government inspectors allege the stores are speculating with unfairly high prices, taking advantage of people’s need to buy Christmas presents.
