TheCable

Marleny Olivo, the woman who stoned President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela on the head with a mango, has been promised a new house for her troubles in the oil-rich country.

The 52-year-old president was driving a bus through a crowd in the central state of Aragua when the fruit was thrown at him.

Maduro, who once drove a bus for a living, confirmed that Olivo had scribbled a message on the mango, saying “If you can, call me.”

“Marleny Olivo had a problem with her house. [Officials] called her. She was scared. She couldn’t believe it was true … I’ve approved an apartment for you, Marleny, as part of the Grand Venezuelan Housing Mission,” the president said, promising to eat the mango.

According to The Guardian, Venezuela’s cyber sphere did not miss a beat, making plenty of jokes from the gesture and its response from the president.

“If for a mango they give you apartments, then you know what to do: throw him a pineapple,” one of the comical posts read.

“A mango shortage is coming, let’s line up to throw them at Maduro and get a new house,” a Twitter user joked.

Like his predecessor Hugo Chávez, who died in 2013, Maduro is presented with many petitions during his trips, although most are written on paper rather than hurled at him on fruit.

In a habit that delights many poor supporters but irritates critics, Maduro – like Chávez – often personally gives away homes, appliances or pensions to low-income Venezuelans.