CARACAS, Venezuela — The inauguration of Nicolás Maduro as president has left his adversaries in a state of mixed emotions, struggling to reconcile feelings of hope with profound disappointment. Many were shocked by the reality that the self-proclaimed socialist leader has remained in power, despite convincing evidence suggesting he lost the previous year’s election.
The atmosphere post-inauguration has been described by some as akin to an emotional hangover, while others voiced a sentiment of abandonment. There are those expressing a diminished hope, comforted only slightly by messages shared via social media from opposition figures such as former lawmaker María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, the opposition candidate.
Nelson Perez, a college professor, articulated the prevailing sentiment: “In the end, it feels as if the soup got cold,” he remarked. “We’ve been on the subject of not losing hope for a while… But then you realize it’s more of the same.” This sense of stagnation weighs heavily on millions of Venezuelans like Perez who envisioned January 10 differently, picturing González receiving the presidential sash and Machado delivering an impassioned address in the National Assembly.
The inauguration ceremony saw Maduro, despite overwhelming evidence questioning his electoral win, defiantly taking the oath of office while commentators like González and Machado communicated their messages through social media. Maduro painted himself as a modern-day David taking on a Goliath, alleging that external forces, particularly from the United States, were trying to undermine his leadership into a global crisis. He declared his continued presidency as a major victory for the nation’s 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,” Maduro stated, accentuating his connection to the Venezuelan populace as he donned the presidential sash colored in the national flag’s hues. The National Electoral Council, which is heavily aligned with Maduro’s government, had claimed him the victor of the July election, yet unlike past elections, failed to provide comprehensive vote counts to substantiate this claim.
Despite official assertions, the opposition collected data from 85% of the electronic voting machines, suggesting González had won the election decisively. Observers from both the United Nations and the U.S.-based Carter Center, initially invited by Maduro’s administration, confirmed the legitimacy of the opposition’s findings.
In a social media post, Machado condemned Maduro for what she described as a coup, asserting that he was not acting within legal bounds by remaining in office past the constitutional term start date. She expressed hope for imminent freedom in Venezuela while being vague about specific future actions against Maduro’s rule. “Today, Maduro didn’t put the sash on his chest. He put a shackle on his ankle, which will tighten every day,” she warned.
Machado had ventured out of hiding to attend a protest against Maduro shortly before the inauguration, claiming she was briefly detained by security forces — a claim the government rejected. The rally, however, drew a much smaller crowd compared to the substantial turnouts seen during the campaign season, likely due to fears of the government’s repressive measures against dissent. More than 2,000 arrests were reported amid the civil unrest that followed the electoral process.
Luis Carlos Moreno, a 55-year-old bricklayer, noted the disillusionment among those who opted not to attend the ceremony, likening people’s expressions to that of a hangover. “We have to wait until next week to see how things go and if everyone goes to work and the kids go to school,” he said, highlighting uncertainty in the air.
Conversely, supporters of Maduro celebrated the inauguration with evident joy, tears of happiness spilling over as they gathered near the legislative palace. While state media reported attendance by 10 heads of state at the event, a larger portion of the international community has dismissed Maduro’s claims of victory, citing valid evidence from independent electoral observers.
In response to Maduro’s actions, countries including the U.S., Canada, Britain, and members of the European Union enacted new sanctions against over 20 Venezuelan officials, charging them with undermining democratic processes. Among those sanctioned were members of the Supreme Court, electoral authorities, the head of the state oil company, and several Cabinet ministers.
Meanwhile, González, who had fled to Spain to evade arrest, is now in the Dominican Republic, planning his return to Venezuela to assume his role. In a recent video, he assured supporters that the Maduro government would not endure much longer, affirming his readiness for a secure return “at the right time.”
Disappointment was felt keenly among those involved in the election, especially poll workers who faced intimidation or arrest post-election. “I’m very disappointed,” shared Caracas resident and poll worker Marlyn Ruiz, reflecting the dissonance between expectations and the harsh reality of the current political landscape.
