Maduro sworn in as US raises reward for his capture
- Maduro, in power since 2013, inaugurated for third term
- Opposition leader Machado says ally Gonzalez will not yet return to country
- US announces $25 million reward for Maduro’s capture or conviction on drug trafficking charges
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose nearly 12 years in office have been marked by deep economic and social crisis, was sworn in for a third term on Friday, despite a six-month-long election dispute, international calls for him to stand aside, and an increase in the U.S. reward offered for his capture.
Maduro, president since 2013, was declared the winner of July’s election by both Venezuela’s electoral authority and top court, though detailed tallies confirming his victory have never been published.
Venezuela’s opposition says ballot box-level tallies show a landslide win for its former candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who is recognized as president-elect by several countries, including the United States. International election observers said the vote was not democratic.
The months since the election have seen Gonzalez’s flight to Spain in September, his ally Maria Corina Machado going into hiding in Venezuela, and the detentions of high-profile opposition figures and protesters.
Gonzalez has been on a whistle-stop tour of the Americas this week and had promised to return to Venezuela.
But Machado, appearing in a video posted on social media on Friday, said the moment was not right for his return.
“Edmundo will come to Venezuela to be sworn in as constitutional president of Venezuela at the right time,” Machado said. “Today, it isn’t viable for Edmundo to enter Venezuela. I’ve asked him not to do so because his integrity is fundamental for the final defeat of the regime and the transition to democracy, which is very close.”
“Maduro consolidated the coup and the violation of our constitution,” Machado added, calling for street protests. “It’s time to do whatever is necessary to restore it.”
The government, which has accused the opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, has said Gonzalez will be arrested if he returns and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
“Soon, very soon, whatever they do, we will manage to enter Venezuela and put an end to this tragedy,” Gonzalez said in his own remarks from the Dominican Republic, asking the military to ignore “illegal orders” from Maduro and cease any repression.
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 a previous $15 million.
It also issued a $25 million reward for Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and a $15 million reward for Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, as well as new sanctions against eight other officials including the head of state oil company PDVSA Hector Obregon.
The U.S. indicted Maduro and others on narcotics and corruption charges, among others, in 2020. Maduro has rejected the accusations.The U.S. move coincided with sanctions by Britain and the European Union, each targeting 15 officials including members of the National Electoral Council and the security forces, and Canadian sanctions targeting 14 current and former officials.The Maduro government has always rejected all sanctions, saying they are illegitimate measures that amount to an “economic war” designed to cripple Venezuela.
“The outgoing government of the United States doesn’t know how to take revenge on us,” Maduro said during his inauguration speech, without directly mentioning sanctions.
The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions, while U.S. officials declined to comment on possible further sanctions, including on the oil industry.
Maduro and his allies have cheered what they say is the country’s resilience despite the measures, though they have historically blamed some economic hardships and shortages on sanctions.
Maduro’s inauguration was illegitimate, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, and the U.S. will not recognize him as president.“The Venezuelan people and world know the truth – Maduro clearly 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 complete loyalty to Maduro.
Reuters