CARACAS, Venezuela — On Friday, Nicolás Maduro officially commenced his third six-year term as Venezuela’s president, despite widespread international condemnation regarding the legitimacy of his recent election victory. This has led to a noticeable tightening of his government’s grip on dissenting voices within the country.
As Maduro’s supporters gathered to celebrate his inauguration, protests were anticipated from opposition groups, particularly following reports that aides to an influential opposition figure indicated her brief detention after a protest in Caracas.
In recent developments, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials. This follows similar actions by the European Union against top members of Maduro’s administration. The latest U.S. sanctions were directed at key figures, including the head of Venezuela’s state oil company, the transportation minister, and high-ranking military and police officials, all of whom the Treasury accused of participating in human rights abuses and repressing dissent.
In his inauguration speech, Maduro asserted that his administration has adhered to the nation’s constitution, in spite of widespread allegations of electoral fraud. He criticized foreign entities for interfering in Venezuelan affairs, particularly targeting the U.S. and its allies, while vowing to protect national peace and sovereignty. “I have not been made president by the government of the United States, nor by the pro-imperialist governments of Latin America,” he declared, countering accusations from opposition groups that sought to portray his ascension to power as a crisis.
Attending the ceremony were prominent leaders from Cuba and Nicaragua, both of whom also face international scrutiny over their governance practices. Noteworthy international figures from Russia and China were also part of the audience.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Edmundo González, who was expected to return to Venezuela to assume the presidency, remained in the Dominican Republic, failing to provide clarity on his plans to reclaim power from Maduro’s firmly established regime. Having just concluded a regional tour aimed at gathering support, González’s future actions remained uncertain.
During the inaugural ceremony held at Venezuela’s legislative palace, Maduro took an oath invoking historical figures such as Bolivar and Chavez, as his supporters cheered enthusiastically.
Security was notably heightened outside the legislative palace, with police and military forces deployed to maintain order as crowds began to gather, displaying symbols of support for Maduro. One supporter expressed her excitement, stating, “Today we’ve come to support our constitutional President Nicolás Maduro with tons of joy and excitement.”
In the backdrop of these events, the European Union has also imposed sanctions on a group of 15 high-ranking Venezuelan officials involved in the oversight of the country’s electoral process, claiming their actions jeopardized Venezuela’s democratic framework.
In response to rising tensions, Venezuelan authorities announced the suspension of commercial flights and closed the border with Colombia for a period of 72 hours, following González’s claim of intending to return to the country for inauguration.
With over a decade in power, Maduro has encountered an unprecedented level of global condemnation due to accusations of rigging past elections. Following allegations that he lost last year’s election significantly, he has faced renewed scrutiny regarding his position. The U.S. and several other nations previously denounced his 2018 election as fraudulent, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate head of state during uprisings against Maduro’s regime.
In the preceding week, troubling reports emerged indicating that opposition figures and activists faced escalating threats, including a series of arrests and abductions. Notably, González’s son-in-law was reported kidnapped while taking children to school, and an opposition leader was briefly detained on the eve of the inauguration.
Currently, as many as ten Americans are reportedly detained in Venezuelan prisons alongside numerous political opponents. Reports indicate these detainees lack access to legal representation and receive limited family contact, raising concerns about their conditions.
In light of questioning regarding the transparency of the recent electoral process, electoral authorities announced Maduro’s victory with no detailed vote counts and faced scrutiny from opposition groups who gathered evidence suggesting González won decisively. The U.S. has supported González’s call for international backing against Maduro’s regime.
As Venezuela braces for the upcoming challenges, the situation remains fluid, with the potential for further political and social unrest continuing to develop in the wake of Maduro’s inauguration and the opposition’s struggle for legitimacy.
