(Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose nearly 12-year rule was marked by a deep economic and social crisis, was sworn in on Friday for a third term despite a six-month-long electoral dispute and international calls for him. He stepped aside, and the United States offered an increased reward for his capture.
Venezuela's Electoral College and Supreme Court declared Maduro, who has been president of the country since 2013, the winner of the July elections, although detailed statistics confirming his victory were never published.
The Venezuelan opposition said that the results of the vote counting at the ballot box level showed a landslide victory for its former candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was recognized by several countries, including the United States, as president-elect. International election observers said the vote was not democratic.
The months following the election saw Gonzalez flee to Spain in September, his ally Maria Corina Machado go into hiding in Venezuela, and the arrest of prominent opposition figures and protesters.
Gonzalez took a whirlwind tour of the Americas this week and promised to return to Venezuela.
But Machado, who appeared in a video posted on social media on Friday, said the moment was not appropriate for his return.
“Edmundo will come to Venezuela to be sworn in as the constitutional president of Venezuela at the appropriate time,” Machado said. “Today, it is not possible for Edmundo to enter Venezuela. I have asked him not to do so because his integrity is essential to the final defeat of the regime and the transition to democracy, which is very close,” he added.
“Maduro promoted the coup and violated our constitution,” Machado added, calling for street protests. “It's time to do whatever is necessary to get it back.”
The government, which accused the opposition of inciting fascist plots against it, said it would arrest Gonzalez if he returned and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
“Soon, very soon, no matter what they do, we will be able to enter Venezuela and put an end to this tragedy,” Gonzalez said in his statements from the Dominican Republic, calling on the army to ignore “illegal orders” from Maduro and stop any interference. respression.
In the latest in a series of punitive steps, the outgoing Biden administration increased its reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro on drug trafficking charges to $25 million, from $15 million previously.
It also issued a $25 million reward to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and a $15 million reward to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, in addition to new sanctions on eight other officials including the head of state oil company PDVSA, Hector Obregon.
The United States indicted Maduro and others on drug and corruption charges, among other charges, in 2020. Maduro has rejected the charges.
The American move coincided with sanctions imposed by Britain and the European Union, each targeting 15 officials, including members of the National Electoral Council and security forces, and Canadian sanctions targeting 14 current and former officials.
Maduro's government has long rejected all sanctions, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an “economic war” aimed at paralyzing Venezuela.
“The outgoing United States government does not know how to take revenge on us,” Maduro said during his inauguration speech, without directly mentioning the sanctions.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions, while US officials declined to comment on other possible sanctions, including on the oil industry.
Maduro and his allies have praised what they say is the country's resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic difficulties and shortages on sanctions.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement that Maduro's inauguration is illegal, and that the United States will not recognize him as president.
“The Venezuelan people and the world know the truth — it is clear that Maduro lost the 2024 presidential election and has no right to claim the presidency,” Blinken said.
Later on Friday, Padrino led members of the armed forces in a separate ceremony, where they swore full loyalty to Maduro.
Detention details
Both Gonzalez and Machado are being investigated by the District Attorney's Office for alleged conspiracy, but only Gonzalez has a general warrant for his arrest.
Machado's first public appearance since August at an anti-government rally in Caracas on Thursday was marred by a brief arrest.
Machado said in her video on Friday that police stopped her after leaving the march on Thursday, removed the motorcycle she was riding and put in another motorcycle. She said she was later asked to film several videos, after which she would be released.
She added that one of the motorcyclists who were accompanying her was shot and arrested.
A video clip shared on social media and by government officials showed her sitting on the sidewalk and recounting the loss of her wallet.
The government mocked the incident and denied any involvement, saying it was an attempt by the opposition to arouse sympathy for Machado.
The non-governmental judicial organization Foro Penal said that about 42 people had been arrested for political reasons since Tuesday.
Maduro took the oath before the National Assembly in Caracas, saying he was swearing in the name of 16th-century indigenous leader Guaycayburu and the late President Hugo Chavez, his mentor, and others.
“I hope that this new presidential period will be a period of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy,” Maduro said, adding that he would form a committee dedicated to constitutional reform.
Maduro said: “This action is possible because Venezuela is a peaceful country, exercising its full national sovereignty, popular sovereignty and national independence.”
The opening ceremony was attended by about 2,000 invitees from 125 countries, according to the government.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, loyal allies of Maduro, attended, as well as Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Russian Parliament's lower house. Bolivian President Luis Arce congratulated Maduro on social media.
Economic problems
The Foreign Ministry in Bogota said in a statement that Venezuela closed its borders and airspace to Colombia for 72 hours, starting at 0500 local time (1000 GMT), adding that the border on the Colombian side will remain open.
The opposition, non-governmental organizations and international bodies such as the United Nations have for years denounced the increasing repression of opposition political parties, activists and independent media in Venezuela.
US President-elect Donald Trump said that the country is run by a dictator.
The Venezuelan government has repeatedly accused the opposition of conspiring with foreign governments and agencies, including the CIA, to commit acts of sabotage and terrorism.
The government said this week it had arrested seven “mercenaries,” including a high-ranking FBI official and a US military official.
In recent years, Venezuela's economy has experienced a protracted crisis marked by triple-digit inflation and the exodus of more than 7 million migrants in search of better opportunities abroad.
Many of Machado's supporters, including retired Venezuelans who want to see their children and grandchildren return to the country, say jobs, inflation and unreliable public services are among their top concerns.
At the same time, the government used conventional methods to try to curb inflation, with some success. Maduro said this month that the economy grew by 9% last year.
