CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wants women to have many children as a way to boost the country, which has seen millions of people flee in recent years to escape its economic crisis.
Maduro made the exhortation during a televised event Tuesday evening for a government program promoting various birth methods.
The socialist president singled out a woman at the event to praise her for having six children, then said all Venezuelan women should have six children. In his words, "Let the homeland grow!”
The comments drew criticism from activists and others who note Venezuelans already are struggling to provide food, clothes and health care for their families.
