Maduro immediately sworn in as Venezuela president after disputed election win
Venezuela’s
Nicolás Maduro was sworn in this week for asecondtermaspresidentofthe crisis-wracked Latin American country, just days after winning an election boycotted by the opposition and decried abroad.
In a wide-ranging victory speech, Maduro promised to defeat US sanctions and take steps to correct the course of an economy in ruins, including seeking OPEC support to nearly double its oil output.
Wearing a ceremonial sash in the Venezuelan colours, Maduro swore “to respect and enforce the Constitution and lead all re- volutionary changes” in a ceremony before the Constituent Assembly, which he set up himself last year and stacked with his supporters.
Maduro admitted a fresh take on Venezuela’s problems was needed, in a lengthy speech before the military and government hierarchy.
“We need a profound rectification, we have to do things anew and better, we are not doing things well and we have to change this country,” he said.
He admitted that tighter sanctions imposed by Washington after his re-election will bring more difficulties to the oil producer, not least because they will prevent “necessary imports.”
Venezuela is going through the worst economic crisis in its history. Hyperinflation has crippled the country, leading to shortages of food and medicine. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to escape the growing deprivation.
Venezuela’s Constitution states that the president must be sworn in before parliament, where the opposition holds the majority and which has in practice been replaced by the Constituent Assembly.
The parliament was declared in contempt by the Supreme Court two years ago, and consequently its decisions are now considered null and void.
Under the Constitution, the inauguration of Maduro’s new termwastobeheldnextJanuary. Prior to the swearing-in, the Assembly approved by a show of hands a decree clarifying the new mandate would begin on January 10 even if Maduro was to be sworn in immediately.
The opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition called it a “farce.”
The 55-year-old former bus driver’s re-election Sunday in a vote boycotted by the main opposition was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States, which denounced it as a “sham.” Venezuela expelled two US diplomats after the US tightened sanctions and Washington responded with a similar move.
The 14 countries of the Lima Group – which includes Argentina, Brazil and Canada – also refused to recognise the election result. The EU says it is also weighing new sanctions.