Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in for a third presidential term following an election that has been marred by allegations of rigging. The election, held on July 28, saw Maduro declared as the winner by electoral authorities closely aligned with the ruling Socialist Party.
However, the opposition in Venezuela has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the election results. They have published thousands of voting tallies indicating that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, actually secured 67% of the vote compared to Maduro's reported 30%.
Independent observers, including the Carter Center and the Colombian Electoral Mission, have validated the opposition's tallies, further casting doubt on the official outcome of the election.
Prior to Maduro's inauguration, protests erupted in Caracas, with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado claiming that she was intercepted at the event. Her team later reported that she was allegedly kidnapped and coerced into recording videos before being released. The Venezuelan government has denied any involvement in Machado's alleged detention.
The situation in Venezuela remains tense as Maduro assumes his third term amidst widespread allegations of electoral fraud and political repression. The international community continues to monitor the developments in the country closely, with concerns growing over the erosion of democratic norms and human rights violations.
