Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third term on Friday, extending his controversial rule despite an unresolved election dispute and mounting international pressure for him to step down. His nearly 12 years in power have been marked by a profound economic collapse and political turmoil.
Maduro, in office since 2013, was declared the winner of July’s presidential election by Venezuela’s electoral authority and Supreme Court. However, detailed vote counts confirming his victory have yet to be disclosed, fueling skepticism about the legitimacy of his win.
At a ceremony in Caracas, Maduro took the oath of office administered by National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez. He dedicated his swearing-in to historical figures, including sixteenth-century Indigenous leader Guaicaipuro and his political mentor, the late Hugo Chávez.
“May this presidential term be one of peace, prosperity, equality, and a renewed democracy,” Maduro declared, promising to uphold the nation’s laws and fulfill his mandate. “I swear on history, on my life, and together, we will achieve our goals.”
Opposition Rejects Result, Claims Fraud
Venezuela’s opposition, led by former candidate Edmundo González, has rejected the election results, asserting that ballot-level data shows a landslide victory in his favor. Several countries, including the United States, recognize González as the legitimate president-elect. International observers have condemned the election process as deeply flawed.
Since the contested vote, political tensions have escalated. González fled to Spain in September amid threats to his safety, while prominent opposition leader María Corina Machado went into hiding. Numerous opposition figures and demonstrators have been detained in the months following the election.
González, 75, has recently toured several Latin American nations, vowing to return to Venezuela to claim the presidency but offering no timeline. The Maduro government has threatened his arrest upon return, accusing him of conspiring to overthrow the government. A $100,000 bounty has been offered for information leading to his capture.
Meanwhile, Venezuela temporarily closed its borders and airspace with Colombia for 72 hours, citing security concerns. Bogotá confirmed its side of the border would remain open during this period.
Crackdown on Dissent
Both González and Machado face investigations by the attorney general for alleged conspiracy, though only González has a formal arrest warrant. Tensions flared further this week when Machado, participating in her first public event since August, was briefly detained at an anti-government demonstration in Caracas. Her political movement, Vente Venezuela, reported that gunfire broke out, and Machado was forcibly removed from her motorcycle, detained, and coerced into recording several videos before her release.
Following the incident, Machado posted: “I am safe and more determined than ever to keep fighting alongside you.” The government dismissed the allegations, accusing the opposition of fabricating the incident to garner sympathy.
Human Rights Concerns and Economic Crisis
International bodies, including the United Nations, along with non-governmental organizations, have long criticized the Maduro administration for suppressing dissent, targeting political rivals, and stifling press freedom.
Maduro’s government, however, continues to claim foreign interference, often blaming the U.S. and its allies for orchestrating destabilization efforts, including alleged CIA-backed plots. This week, authorities announced the arrest of seven alleged “mercenaries,” including an FBI official and a U.S. military officer.
Venezuela’s economic crisis remains severe. Hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages, and unreliable public services have driven over seven million citizens to flee the country. While the government blames U.S. sanctions, particularly those targeting its vital oil industry, for the crisis, critics point to widespread corruption and economic mismanagement. Maduro, however, recently claimed the economy grew by 9% last year, attributing the progress to his administration’s fiscal policies.
Ongoing Unrest
Maduro has promised to launch a constitutional reform as his first move in the new term but has provided no further details. Meanwhile, repression continues. Over 2,000 people were arrested in the aftermath of the contested election, though the government claims to have released 1,515 of them.
Adding to the personal toll on opposition figures, González revealed this week that his son-in-law was kidnapped while taking his children to school, a further sign of the climate of fear gripping the nation.
With Maduro tightening his hold on power and the opposition vowing continued resistance, Venezuela’s political future remains highly uncertain.
