On Thursday, Venezuelan police used tear gas against 2,000 protesters demanding salary and pension increases near the presidential palace. The protests reflect growing anger over the acting President Delcy Rodríguez's failure to address the cost-of-living crisis. Despite a planned wage increase announcement, many Venezuelans struggle with extremely low wages and high inflation. The protest was the largest anti-government demonstration since August 2024, indicating a resurgence in public dissent.