This Friday, Nicolás Maduro was sworn in as president of Venezuela for the period 2025-2031, despite widespread international questions about his legitimacy, massive protests in the country and constant calls from the Catholic Church to respect the popular will expressed in the vote, on July 28, 2024.
From the Federal Legislative Palace, headquarters of the National Assembly in the center of Caracas, and together with all the leaders of the Chavista regime, Maduro swore an oath on the 1999 Constitution, promoted by the late Hugo Chávez. The event was held in the midst of the political and social situation that affects the country, as a result of the allegations of fraud that weigh on the electoral result.
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Maduro was accompanied by the dictators of Cuba and Nicaragua, Miguel Díaz-Canel and Daniel Ortega, as well as delegations from Russia, Iran and China. Historical allies of the Chavista regime in the region, such as Gustavo Petro and Lula Da Silva, did not attend the ceremony.
Conflict in the streets and persecution of dissent
On January 9, the streets of Venezuela were the scene of dozens of citizen protests, called by María Corina Machado, who accompanied the mobilization in Caracas, after months of having remained underground.
After addressing the crowd, Machado claimed to have been intercepted by armed officials, who held her hostage for several hours.
“They shot at us. I was abruptly dragged away. They put me on a motorcycle among men. They were taking me to Boleíta (urbanization in Caracas) and then they asked me to leave, but not before recording a video. “I have bruises,” Machado said in a video. published this January 10.
The opposition leader highlighted the international tour of Edmundo González Urrutia, recognized by a vast majority of countries as the legitimate elected president of Venezuela, and assured that he will return to the country to take office “when the conditions are appropriate.”
At least 20 people were detained in Thursday’s protests, Machado said, including the motorcyclist who was transporting her. He said that Maduro “will not be able to govern by force a Venezuela that decided to be free” and asked Venezuelans to remain in active protest against the “coup d’état” that has been committed.
The bishops demand respect for the popular will
The Venezuelan Episcopate has asked Chavismo to respect the “clear and determined option for democracy” that the people expressed with their participation and vote in the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, which according to the electoral records presented by the opposition, gave as the winner to Edmundo González by a wide advantage.
“In various ways and on various occasions, the bishops of Venezuela, guided by evangelical values and the social doctrine of the Church, have spoken out about the social, economic, political, cultural and ethical reality of the country, with the desire to illuminate and accompany the people we have been called to serve,” the bishops recalled in a statement. published this January 9.
Furthermore, they demanded that the parties involved in the Venezuelan conflict “place the common good before particular or partisan interests” and not remain indifferent to the national situation.
Andres Henriquez
I have been a writer for ACI Prensa and a correspondent for EWTN since 2023. Since then, I have covered events in the Catholic Church in Venezuela and Latin America. I have more than 5 years of experience in bilingual media. Additionally, in Venezuela I have worked with non-governmental organizations in favor of freedom and respect for human rights in the country. I have been a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.