Venezuela's Maduro sworn in for third presidential term despite domestic, global outcry
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro defied international condemnation of his alleged vote steal on Friday to be sworn in for a third term on Friday. His inauguration came a day after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was briefly arrested after an anti-Maduro rally – reviving criticism of his cowing of critics.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday for a third six-year term, shunned internationally over claims of election fraud and repression but bolstered by a loyal military.
Maduro took the oath before parliament, vowing his next term would be a "period of peace", a day after thousands took to the streets to protest his alleged power grab.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who came out of hiding to lead a demonstration in Caracas Thursday, was briefly detained after the rally according to her team – reigniting international condemnation of Maduro’s alleged vote steal and cowing of critics.
The government denied arresting her.
Read moreVenezuelan opposition leader Machado briefly arrested after anti-govt protests
They “should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE", he wrote on his Truth Social network.
Ecuador denounced what it called the Maduro “dictatorship", while Spain expressed “total condemnation” of Machado’s detention, albeit brief.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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