Nicolás Maduro was sworn in this Friday as president of Venezuela for a new six-year term, during a ceremonial event held at the National Assembly in Caracas.
Maduro was illegitimately sworn in for a third consecutive presidential term, in an event rejected by a large part of the international community due to the lack of transparency and legitimacy in the electoral process held at the end of July 2024 in the South American nation.
“Before the Constitution, I will uphold all its mandates, all the obligations of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic. This new presidential term will be one of peace, equality, and a new democracy. I swear it by History and by my life,” declared Maduro at 10:45 a.m. (local time) in the Elíptico Hall of the legislative palace.
Jorge Rodríguez, leader of the Parliament and one of its closest collaborators, formalized the act with the words: "You are hereby invested as the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela."
After the swearing-in, Maduro gave a speech in which he stated that the power he holds has been granted to him by the people.
"The power I have has not been given to me by a foreign government, nor by a U.S. government. I have not been placed as president by the Government of the United States. My power comes from history and the people," he stated.
The swearing-in ceremony took place amid a climate of intense controversy.
Both his opponents and several foreign governments, including the United States, had urged Maduro not to take office and to initiate a democratic transition following the disputed results of the elections on July 28.
Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived in Caracas on Friday morning to attend the new power grab by Nicolás Maduro.
"Now we are in #Venezuela, Homeland of the brave people of Simón Bolívar, Hugo Chávez, and Nicolás Maduro. We come to accompany, at the time of his oath, the legitimate President of this country that is the cradle of independence in Our America. Here is #Cuba, brother Nicolás," can be read on the ruler's X account.
Díaz-Canel, who interestingly arrived in Caracas without Lis Cuesta, was received at the "Simón Bolívar" International Airport in Maiquetía shortly after eight in the morning (local time). This is Díaz-Canel's seventh visit to Venezuela since he assumed the presidency.
Cuba's support for Maduro has generated both internal and international criticisms. The Cuban regime is one of the few that recognizes Maduro's victory, a stance that has been questioned by the international community and by millions of Venezuelans who do not consider the elections legitimate. This position has fueled political tensions in the region.
María Corina Machado and Edmundo González
This Thursday, the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado emerged from hiding to participate in a rally in Caracas.
However, just as she was leaving the event, Machado was kidnapped by forces aligned with Nicolás Maduro's chavista regime and was released shortly afterwards.
“If they commit that crime against the constitution and popular sovereignty, they will be sealing their fate,” he added.
In X, the opposition leader thanked the Venezuelans yesterday for their participation in the protests because the people showed "how to OVERCOME fear!"
"I have never felt so proud to be Venezuelan. Thank you, thank you, to all the citizens who took to the streets to claim our victory from July 28 and to COLLECT it! My heart is with the Venezuelan who was shot when the regime's repressive forces detained me. I am now in a safe place and with more determination than ever to continue alongside you UNTIL THE END!" she wrote.
The opposition leader promised to announce "what's coming" this Friday. As of the closing of this report, there are no new posts on her X profile.
Edmundo González, opposition leader in exile in Spain since September, claims to have won the elections based on the voting records and has been recognized as president by several countries. From Madrid, he promised to return to Venezuela to assume the presidency.
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