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 The 52-year-old president was driving a bus through a crowd last
weekend in the central state of Aragua when someone in the crowd
tossed the fruit at him.
"It says: 'If you can, call me'," the former bus driver said later
during the week, as he displayed the fruit with a name and phone
number scrawled on it on television.
"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'," he added, vowing to eat the mango.
Venezuela's ever ebullient cybersphere did not miss a beat, with the
president's populist gesture drawing admiration and derision, plus
plenty of jokes.
 "If for a mango they give you apartments, then you know what to do:
throw him a pineapple!" quipped Dolar Today, a website that quotes
the black market for dollars and is hated by Maduro.
Like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, Maduro collects
heaps of petitions during trips, although most are scribbled on
paper rather than hurled at him on fruit.
In a habit that delights many poor supporters but irritates critics,
Maduro - like Chavez - often personally gives away homes, appliances
or pensions to low-income Venezuelans.
However, lacking Chavez's charm and good fortune with high oil
prices, Maduro's popularity has plummeted since he took office.
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Roughly 28.2 percent of Venezuelans approved of his management of
the country in April, according to pollster Datanalisis. That was up
from March's 24.7 percent, likely due to his campaign against U.S.
sanctions on seven government officials, but still nearly half the
level when he became president.
The survey also said 45.8 percent plan to vote for opposition
candidates in this year's parliamentary election, while only 25
percent support the ruling Socialists.
Shortages of food and medicine caused by strict currency controls
have taken a heavy toll, particularly the poor, who traditionally
have supported "Chavismo."
"A mango shortage is coming, let's line up to throw them at Maduro
and get a new house!" one Twitter user joked.
(Editing by Andrew Cawthorne. Editing by Andre Grenon)
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