Venezuela's president just responded to a dire energy crisis by declaring Fridays a holiday

Venezuela relies on hydroelectric power for 60 percent of its domestic energy needs, and with the South American nation in the throes of a severe drought, the government is taking action. In a nationally broadcast speech on Thursday night, President Nicolas Maduro said that for the rest of April and all of May, every Friday is a non-working holiday. "This plan for 60 days, for two months, will allow the country to get through the most difficult period with the most risk," he said. "We'll have long weekends."

Maduro said a week-long work holiday he decreed over the Easter holiday conserved 22 cm (8.7 inches) of water at Guri Dam, which generates up to 75 percent of the electricity in Caracas. The water level at the dam is currently about 243 meters (800 feet) above sea level, he said, and if it falls to 240 meters, the dam might have to be shut down to save the turbines.

It is not yet clear if his holiday extends to private sector employees or just government workers, but Maduro also said he would ask malls, hotels, and other large electricity users to use generators for nine hours a day and heavy industry to cut energy consumption by 20 percent.

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Venezuelans expressed their skepticism online:

Venezuela's opposition parties were equally unimpressed, calling it counterproductive since Venezuela is already suffering through a deep recession and shortages of essential goods like food and medicine. "Fridays are free bread and circus," said Caracas city council member Jesus Armas.