Flashing neon. The audience cheers. The cheerful host wears a seafoam green suit and has slicked back hair. A panel of judges wearing black sunglasses. Contestants share emotional personal stories before taking to the microphone to perform their songs.
It has all the elements of a typical singing competition. However, the winner of this contest does not get any money or a recording contract.
Instead, performers from the show “M Factor” will write and perform a song in a contest that will become the official campaign jingle of Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro's party.
Maduro's repressive regime, in power for more than a decade, is under investigation by an international tribunal for crimes against humanity.
But on the domestic front, Maduro has occasionally used state media to portray the regime as a goofy, fun-loving man working hard to save the country from its alleged imperialist enemies. and tried to promote a softer side. That is the United States.
On his weekly TV show, Maduro appears alongside traditional singers and dancers in flashy costumes, promoting his policies through songs. Another series on state television features a comic superhero called “Super Mustache” who closely resembles Mr. Maduro and saves Venezuelans from disaster.
Such programs are seen by many as a distraction from the years-long economic struggle that has forced more than 7 million Venezuelans, a quarter of the country's population, to leave the country since 2015.
But Winston Valenilla, host of “The M Factor”, longtime TV actor, Maduro supporter and member of parliament, said this was not true.
“The M Factor was born out of a movement of artists,” he said in an interview. “It was born out of people's need to express themselves through music. It was not born out of President Nicolas Maduro's call.”
“There is no economic benefit here,” he added. “The only interest is the interest of the motherland.”
“M Factor” producer Camila Fabbri said in a news release that the show was conceived after Maduro's camp received several jingle ideas “on a spontaneous basis.”
The show will premiere on April 28 on public television station TVES and will feature 35 contestants over eight episodes. The final episode will air on June 10, seven weeks before the presidential election scheduled for July 28.
“Venezuela has so many singers and so much promise,” Maduro said when announcing the contest three weeks ago. “We must express this historical moment and express it with their longings and hopes.”
The judges, all known Maduro supporters with business ties to the government, have rarely criticized his performance and largely praised the president, whose approval rating hovers around 35%.
Criticism of the United States, which has imposed harsh economic sanctions on Venezuela, was frequently criticized by the host, Mr. Maduro's campaign messages played during the show, and by one contestant whose song included the phrase “They want to rule.” It has risen to We are the gringo empire. ”
“The United States has done us great harm,” Varenilla said in one episode. “They are always trying to violate the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the people.” Throughout the program, Vallenira calls Maduro the “president of peace” and “Venezuela's greatest cultural defender.”
One contestant, wearing a cowboy hat and surrounded by flamenco dancers, sang: I shout loudly, with 10 million votes, we will definitely win. ” Mr. Varenila then spoke on stage with a contestant known as Neo Blanco.
“He's not here, but he's watching you on TV,” Valgenira said of the president. “So what would you say to President Nicolas Maduro at this special moment?”
“Do not give up, compare. There are a lot of people there,” Neo Blanco said. “If someday we have to hang up our hats and go into the toughest battles, count on us, brother.”
sheila ardaneta I contributed a report from Maracaibo.
