Nicolás Maduro Sworn In Despite Evidence of Election Loss in Venezuela/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third term as Venezuela’s president, despite credible evidence suggesting his opponent, Edmundo González, won the election. The inauguration drew widespread protests, international condemnation, and accusations of voter fraud. Opposition leaders, including María Corina Machado, faced threats and detentions as dissent continues to be suppressed.
Maduro’s Inauguration: Quick Looks
- Controversial Election: Opposition-published tallies suggest González won twice as many votes as Maduro.
- Protests and Repression: Security forces detained over 2,000 demonstrators, with reports of torture.
- Global Condemnation: Leaders across the Americas and Europe decried the inauguration as illegitimate.
- Opposition Suppression: Machado, a prominent critic, was detained briefly after joining protests.
- Maduro’s Defiance: Maduro dismissed fraud allegations, blaming foreign powers for attacking Venezuela.
Nicolás Maduro Sworn In Despite Evidence of Election Loss in Venezuela
Deep Look
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro took the oath of office Friday to begin a third six-year term, a move steeped in controversy following widespread allegations of election fraud. Despite credible evidence suggesting opposition candidate Edmundo González secured twice as many votes, Maduro’s government pushed ahead with the inauguration, sparking protests and global criticism.
Election Irregularities and Fraud Allegations
The July 28 presidential election raised alarms when electoral authorities, dominated by Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner without providing detailed vote counts. Opposition figures published tallies from over 80% of voting machines, which showed González with a decisive lead.
Independent observers, including the U.S.-based Carter Center, deemed the opposition’s tallies legitimate, citing security features that matched original records. However, Venezuela’s Supreme Court, also filled with Maduro allies, reaffirmed his victory without substantiating the results.
Protests and Repression
The disputed results triggered nationwide protests, met with brutal government crackdowns. Security forces arrested more than 2,000 demonstrators, with reports of torture and at least 20 deaths during the unrest.
On the eve of the inauguration, anti-Maduro protests intensified in Caracas. María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader barred from holding office, joined demonstrators before being detained by security forces. Though released shortly after, her detention drew international condemnation, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urging her safety.
“These freedom fighters should not be harmed and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Maduro’s Inauguration and Defiance
Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony at the heavily guarded legislative palace was attended by supporters wearing pro-Maduro apparel and chanting in his favor.
“I swear by history, I swear by my life,” Maduro declared, referencing Venezuela’s late leader Hugo Chávez.
In his speech, Maduro defended his legitimacy, dismissing fraud allegations and accusing the U.S. and other nations of undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“I have not been made president by the government of the United States, nor by the pro-imperialist governments of Latin America,” he said.
Despite his defiance, the inauguration’s attendance highlighted Venezuela’s isolation. Only a few allies, such as Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel, were present. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, once a Maduro ally, declined to attend, citing recent detentions of opposition figures and human rights defenders.
Impact on Opposition Figures
The government has targeted González and his allies with threats and intimidation. González, who fled to Spain in September, vowed to return to Venezuela by inauguration day but has yet to fulfill that promise. His family has faced reprisals, including the recent kidnapping of his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, in Caracas.
“At what point did being related to Edmundo González Urrutia become a crime?” asked González’s daughter, Mariana González de Tudares, in a statement.
International and Domestic Fallout
Maduro’s inauguration has drawn sharp rebukes from leaders across the Americas and Europe, who accuse his government of eroding democracy and repressing dissent. The lack of transparency in the election and the violent suppression of protests have further isolated Venezuela on the global stage.
For many Venezuelans, the inauguration symbolizes the continuation of a repressive regime and deepening political crisis. While Maduro’s supporters celebrated his victory, critics fear his third term will bring heightened crackdowns on dissent and further erosion of civil liberties.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.