“A new beginning for the Bolivarian revolution”: Nicolás Maduro

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In the middle of the controversy, Nicolás Maduro assumed the presidency for a second term, declared illegitimate by several world organizations

On January 10, President Nicolás Maduro swore before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ, in Spanish), a new mandate as president, after being elected in the elections held in May 2018. 67.8% of Venezuelans elected him for a new presidential period.

Before the Supreme Court of Justice, during a long ceremony, Maduro swore before the Constitution and before the president of the institution Maikel Moreno, his second term as president. In the oath, he swore "on behalf of the people of Venezuela, for our ancestors, for Hugo Chávez, for the defense of Venezuelan independence, and above all in the construction of socialism."

In his inauguration speech, he thanked the delegates of the countries that attended the event, Turkey, Bolivia, Cuba, Russia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Laos, Mozambique, China, among others. One by one, they were appointed not only to thank them for their company and for their support, in the words of Maduro "they respect Venezuela", but to show thathe is not alone, unlike what the United States or the international community can think.

Throughout his speech, he stressed that "from today I assume the power of my second term to take my country in the best direction". He also stressed that the people are the true legitimators, "people are the president; the power is yours sovereign Venezuelan people". Furthermore, Maduro criticized US imperialism "is an expert" in questioning the government and argued that the country defends itself from media campaigns based on lies, because "Venezuela is a deeply democratic country".

Faced with the questioning of the legitimacy of the presidential elections held on May 20, 2018, Maduro stressed that all the elections held in the Venezuelan homeland were transparent and that the results were proof of them. He assured that there is an international boycott to delegitimize the elections.

On the other hand, Maduro made a call to the Venezuelan right, which he called fascist, to be responsible for "infecting" the other rights governments in Latin America. Answering the questioning of the Lima Group, he stressed that it is precisely those right-wing governments that seek to give orders to Venezuela: a revolutionary country that is not afraid to dare and reaffirm its courage, he added.

He also made a call to the European Union, to which he asked to refrain from intervening in the Venezuelan situation, referring in that subject as "enough of aggressions, enough to Europe with the colonization in our country". On the other hand, Colombia was also one of the direct topics addressed by Maduro in his speech. He said he is willing to have a face-to-face meeting with Iván Duque to clarify and discuss the political situation in these two countries, highlighting the work of Venezuela to eradicate illicit coca crops.

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A new cycle

That is how Maduro called this second term, which will also have several main lines. The first will be a greater commitment to the international community, since he proposed a summit to address the situations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Second, the consolidation of economic and political peace, and in which he insists on building for economic recovery, which he will carry out with the support of Russia and China. Similarly, he proposed that both American, Colombian and American and Caribbean entrepreneurs begin investing in the country.

Nicolás Maduro stressed that in this new 6 years of government he wants "a new beginning of the Bolivarian revolution, I want to change everything that has to be changed to improve the life of the people, to improve the country. To consolidate the independence and sovereignty of our country. To achieve the road without return of prosperity and economic growth. To achieve social protection. I want us to correct many mistakes that have been made", said the president.

Between support and criticism

Within the day, the surroundings of the Supreme Court of Justice were invaded by Venezuelans who reiterated their support for the Venezuelan president, arguing that the past elections were legitimate and that the non-recognition hinders the political situation in the country.

However, several student movements demonstrated the rejection of the new mandate of the president. In social networks, the hashtag #MaduronoesmiPresidente (Maduro is not my presidente) was trending for several hours. There, the Venezuelans expressed their repudiation against Nicolás Maduro.

The international response

In recent days, the Lima Group announced that it would not recognize the new mandate of Nicolás Maduro. In the last hours, Mercosur published a statement in which it is argued that the parliament "has as an inalienable pillar the Democratic Clause and the guarantee of Human Rights as principles and values Pro Homine".

Given the departure of Venezuela from the Ibero-American Human Rights System and the sequestration of power in the different judicial branches, the Democratic Integration Bloc ignored the illegitimate re-election.

While Maduro made his speech, the OAS also said that it did not recognize the second term of the Venezuelan president as legitimate. The resolution had 19 votes in favor and 6 votes against. On the other hand, Paraguay decided to officially break diplomatic relations with Venezuela. The Paraguayan president, Mario Abdo Benítez, also announced the closure of his country's embassy in Caracas.

LatinAmerican Post | Laura Viviana Guevara Muñoz
Translated from "Un nuevo comienzo de la revolución bolivariana": Nicolás Maduro"