Nicolas Maduro sworn in as Venezuela President for 3rd term, cited election dispute

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – According to media reports on Saturday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term on Friday, after a controversial disputed election in which his opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, accused him of voter fraud and declared himself the legitimate winner

The news reports stated that Maduro starts his new term despite international pressure and sanctions led by the US, which has recognized Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of the July election.

“May this new presidential term bring peace, prosperity, equality, and a new democracy,” Maduro stated during the swearing ceremony.

He affirmed his commitment to uphold the country’s laws. “I swear on history, on my life, and I will fulfill my mandate,” he said as quoted in news media.

Maduro’s inauguration came a day after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado led a protest against his government.

Machado’s team claimed she was briefly detained during the demonstration. After her release, Machado expressed on social media her continued resolve to challenge Maduro’s rule.

Maduro rose to power following left-wing leader Hugo Chavez’s death in 2013, has faced criticism for authoritarianism and for navigating Venezuela through economic and political crises.

He also faced a contested election in 2018 with key opposition figures barred from participating.

The opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself president, and several Western nations, including the US, who recognized him.

US imposed additional sanctions on Venezuela, which deepened its economic struggles.

Venezuela has seen nearly 7.7 million citizens flee the country, many citied political repression and economic instability as their reasons.

The July election gave the opposition hopes of peacefully unseating Maduro, but he quickly declared victory, claimed 51 per cent of the vote.

Venezuelan electoral authorities sided with Maduro, though they did not provide the usual breakdown of voting results, which sparked criticism about transparency.

The opposition released its own tally sheets, claimed Gonzalez won by a large margin.

Some left-wing leaders in South America also questioned the election results, and protests broke out after the announcement of Maduro’s victory.

The government crackdown resulted in 2,000 arrests and 25 deaths during the post-election demonstrations.

The opposition continued to pressure Maduro’s government, called for protests during the inauguration.

Few hundred demonstrators joined Machado on Thursday the turnout was smaller than in the post-election protests.

Maduro’s government accused the opposition of plotting with foreign powers to overthrow him and issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez who fled and sought asylum in Spain.

Gonzalez, a former diplomat, visited the US and met US President Joe Biden to discuss concerns about Maduro’s actions.

White House expressed deep concerns about Maduro’s repression of peaceful protests and democracy activists.

According to news media reports US also referred to Gonzalez as Venezuela’s “president-elect” and condemned Maduro’s inauguration as a “desperate attempt to seize power.”

US raised its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest from USD 15 million to USD 25 million.

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on eight of Maduro’s allies, including Hector Andres Obregon, the president of the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela.