Venezuela's Maduro stays in power as election fraud allegations swirl

Caracas, Jan 10 (EFE).- Pro-Chavéz leader Nicolás Maduro was sworn in on Friday as president of Venezuela for the period 2025-2031 by the ruling party-controlled National Assembly, even though the opposition claims that Edmundo González Urrutia was the winner of last July’s elections.

“I swear before the historic, noble, and brave people of Venezuela and before this constitution that I will fulfill all its mandates. I inaugurate a new period of peace, prosperity, and new democracy,” Maduro told the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez.

The pro-Chávez leader swore in an original copy of the constitution signed by the late President Hugo Chávez and approved by referendum in December 1999.

Photo provided by the Miraflores Palace of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (c-l) during his swearing-in ceremony in front of Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on Friday in Caracas, Venezuela. January 10, 2025. EFE/ Miraflores Palace /EDITORIAL USE ONLY (MANDATORY CREDIT)

Maduro’s inauguration ceremony was attended by the attorney general, Tarek William Saab, president of Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, Caryslia Rodríguez, president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso, and the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López.

Photo provided by the Miraflores Palace of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (l) before receiving the presidential sash in front of Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez (r) on Friday in Caracas, Venezuela. January 10, 2025. EFE/ Miraflores Palace /EDITORIAL USE ONLY (MANDATORY CREDIT)

The leader arrived at the National Assembly headquarters accompanied by his wife, Cilia Flores, and officials Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello.

Maduro was declared the winner of the Jul. 28 presidential elections by the CNE, which has yet to publish the detailed results, as promised.

Screenshot taken from the official Instagram of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, @nicolasmaduro, of Nicolas Maduro (l) receiving the presidential sash from the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday. January 10, 2025. EFE/ @nicolasmaduro /EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ONLY AVAILABLE TO ILLUSTRATE ACCOMPANYING NEWS STORY (CREDIT REQUIRED) BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

Meanwhile, the majority of Venezuela’s opposition, grouped in the Democratic Unitary Platform, has insisted that González Urrutia was the winner of the elections.

The anti-Chávez party claimed to have collected “85% of the electoral documents” as proof of González Urrutia’s triumph, which were published on a website through witnesses and table on the night of the elections, attesting to González Urrutia’s triumph, documents that the government claim are false.

Photo provided by the Miraflores Palace of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (r) greets ers upon his arrival at the National Assembly headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday. January 10, 2025. EFE/ Miraflores Palace /EDITORIAL USE ONLY (MANDATORY CREDIT)

The former ambassador, who has recently been on a tour of several countries in the Americas, has also reiterated that he will be sworn in as president.

At the same time, the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, has repeatedly declared his loyalty and that of the armed forces to Maduro. EFE

Photo provided by Miraflores Palace shows, from left, Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s First Lady Cilia Flores, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez and Venezuela’s Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace Diosdado Cabello upon their arrival at the National Assembly headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday. January 10, 2025. EFE/ Miraflores Palace /EDITORIAL USE ONLY (MANDATORY CREDIT)

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