He compared himself to the biblical King David, without mentioning God or Jesus at any point in the ceremony, which was opposed in the streets by thousands.
Nicolás Maduro at his inauguration. / [link]Venezuelan presidency[/link].
Although he refused to show the voting records, which seem to give Edmundo González as the clear winner of the elections, Nicolás Maduro was sworn last Friday as the new president of Venezuela from 2025 to 2031.
The oath before the National Assembly (AN) and members of civil society was broadcast on national radio and television.
There was a significant absence of international representatives, in rejection of his actions and what many are calling a military coup d'état.
The only leaders who were with the chavista at his inauguration were Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, Brahim Gali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda. Other countries such as Honduras, Serbia, China, India, Algeria and Russia, sent special delegates.
Maduro swore “by Guaicaipuro and the indigenous peoples, by Pedro Camejo and José Leonardo Chirinos, by Bolívar, by Sucre, by Manuela Sáenz, by the eternal memory of our beloved commander-in-chief Hugo Chávez and by the historic, noble and brave people of Venezuela before this Constitution”.
Guaicaipuro is revered in santeria as a deity, and has been depicted alongside Hugo Chávez as a protector. According to Venezuelan history, Guaicaipuro was an indigenous chieftain and warrior who fought against the colonisers and is seen as a hero.
Pedro Camejo is known as the Negro Felipe (Black Phillip). For Santeria, Guaicaipuro and Negro Felipe make up the spiritual 'three powers' along with Maria Lionza.
The rest of the people he swore by are heroes of the country for some Venezuelans, such as Simón Bolívar.
Furthermore, although he did not mention God or Jesus, Maduro later in his speech highlighted the biblical story of David defeating Goliath, to present himself as a David fighting Goliath in the political arena.
After the ceremony, Maduro convened a National Commission to prepare an institutional reform project.
Criticism and sanctions against Maduro have spread around the world following his seizure of power.
The United States increased the reward for the capture of the Venezuelan leader and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello to $25 million.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, reiterated that they “reject the fraudulent announcement that Maduro won the presidential election and does not recognize him as the president of Venezuela”. and call for the swearing in of opposition leader González.
On the other hand, both Israel and Canada have in recent hours joined the recognition of Edmundo González as the elected president.
The European Union has stated that the presidency of Maduro “lacks legitimacy” and has also approved sanctions against Caryslia Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice.
G7 leaders have also denounced “the lack of democratic legitimacy of the purported inauguration of Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela”, in a statement issued by the US State Department.
All the countries that had previously recognised Edmundo have also condemned the Chavista actions.
[analysis]
[title]One more year[/title]
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[/text][/analysis]
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