Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sworn in

(CLO) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third term on Friday (January 10) despite fierce opposition from the West, including the US increasing the reward for his arrest.

Mr Maduro was sworn in at the Venezuelan National Assembly in Caracas. "May this new presidential term be a new era of peace, prosperity, equality and democracy," he said, adding that he would convene a commission to reform the constitution.

"This action is possible because Venezuela is at peace, fully exercising its national sovereignty, its people's sovereignty and its national independence," Maduro said.

According to the Venezuelan government, about 2,000 guests from 125 countries attended the inauguration. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and high-ranking representatives of China attended. Bolivian President Luis Arce congratulated Mr. Maduro on social media.

However, some countries, including the US and many Western countries, do not recognize Mr. Maduro's re-election and support opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

President Nicolas Maduro waves to the people after being sworn in. Photo: Venezuelan Government Office.

Mr. Maduro, who has held the position of President of Venezuela since 2013, was previously declared the winner of the July 2024 election by both the electoral body and the Venezuelan Supreme Court, despite objections from the pro-US and Western opposition.

After losing, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez flew to Spain in September. This week, Gonzalez toured the Americas and promised to return to Venezuela.

Venezuela's government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against the country, has said Gonzalez will be arrested if he returns and is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

In contrast, the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Mr. Maduro to $25 million, from the previous $15 million.

They also offered a $25 million reward for the capture of Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and a $15 million reward for Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, as well as new sanctions on eight other officials.

The US move coincides with sanctions from the UK and the European Union, each targeting 15 officials. Meanwhile, Canada's sanctions target 14 current and former officials. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would not recognize Mr Maduro as Venezuela's president.

Mr Maduro's administration has consistently rejected all sanctions, saying they are illegal measures aimed at crippling Venezuela.

Both Gonzalez and opposition ally Maria Corina Machado are under investigation by Venezuela's Attorney General's Office for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, but only Gonzalez has an open arrest warrant.

Machado made her first public appearance since August at an anti-government rally in Caracas on Thursday. She said she had been briefly detained.

However, the Venezuelan government ridiculed the incident and denied any involvement, saying it was a staged attempt by the opposition to arouse sympathy for Machado.

Bui Huy (according to VEN, TASS, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-tuyen-the-nham-chuc-truoc-suc-ep-tu-phuong-tay-post329905.html