Nicolas Maduro took his oath of office as the president of Venezuela on Friday, January 10, in the country’s capital Caracas, renewing his position for an additional six years. He has once again consolidated political power over the country. Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela’s national assembly, administered the oath.
Maduro completed the ceremony by handing over Venezuela’s constitution and saying the oath. “I swear for the historic, noble, and hard-fought people of Venezuela and before this constitution, that I will comply with all of its mandates. I inaugurate the new period of peace, prosperity, and new democracy,” said Maduro at the end of the ceremony.
This will be Maduro’s third six-year term in office, from 2025 to 2031. Maduro will hold the office for 18 years, more than Hugo Chavez was in power, and is only behind Venezuelan Dictator Juan Vicente Gomez. He held power in Venezuela for 27 years, from 1908 to 1935.
Maduro’s Swearing-in Ceremony was brought forward almost two hours
Owing to the tense Venezuelan political climate, Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony started two hours ahead of schedule. Since the election, the international community, including Colombia, has asked Maduro to show the ballots. They presumably show that Edmundo Gonzalez won the presidency. Tensions have risen since yesterday, January 9, when the regime captured and then freed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
The ceremony was quickly conducted in the National Assembly’s elliptical room, a change from tradition, as it is historically held in the Assembly’s session chamber.
🇻🇪Nicolas Maduro sworn in as Venezuela’s president for the third time#Venezuela #NicolasMaduro
⚡️follow and support us for the latest updates:@GlobeWarReport pic.twitter.com/09hpIaRQ25
— Global War Report. (@GlobeWarReport) January 10, 2025
Following the completion of his oath, Maduro received the presidential sash alongside other traditional items designated for the President of Venezuela. He then signed the proclamation affirming his oath, thus finalizing the ceremony.
Most South American countries were absent for Maduro’s inauguration in Venezuela
Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony lacked presence from most of the region’s leaders, as almost no President showed up for his inauguration. Cuba’s leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Bolivian Chancellor Celinda Sosa assisted in the ceremony.
Regional and global reactions have been mostly negative. Most Western democracies do not recognize Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela. For instance, the United States has raised its bounty for Maduro’s capture to 25 million dollars.
The US has a bounty of $25M for Maduro and his top lieutenant Diosdado Cabello for narcoterrorism.
Maduro and Diosdado are the 2nd and 3rd highest bounties amongst the US narcoterrorists. pic.twitter.com/OmyFis7Cbv
— Emmett Burton (@emmettito_) January 10, 2025
The European Union addressed Maduro’s inauguration, saying he lacked the legitimacy of a democratically elected President. Additionally, the United Kingdom has also increased its sanctions on Venezuela. These new sanctions target 15 new individuals with ties to the Maduro regime.
Regionally, Peru has already rejected Maduro’s new government, saying that the election was illegitimate, and again recognizing Edmundo Gonzalez as President of Venezuela.