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Venezuela President Maduro sworn in for second term

Nicolás Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuela’s President for a second term, BBC reports.

Venezuela President Maduro sworn in for second term

Venezuela President Maduro sworn in for second term
STEPANAKERT,  JANUARY 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: The May 2018 polls were marred by an opposition boycott and vote-rigging claims.
The US and 13 other countries in the Americas said last week that they would not recognize Mr Maduro’s presidency.

Security forces were stationed in the capital and other cities, as opposition groups called for pot-banging and the sounding of horns in protest during the ceremony.

In his remarks Maduro said he will soon present new economic actions, as well as stated that he is ready to meet with all critics of his government and tell them the whole truth about Venezuela.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by more than 90 foreign delegations, including the leaders of Abkhazia, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Salvador and South Ossetia.

Minutes after Maduro was sworn in, Paraguayan President Mario Abdo tweeted that he was cutting diplomatic ties with Venezuela and immediately withdrawing his country's diplomats from Caracas.

The Organization of American States also approved a resolution declaring his second term "illegitimate."

Nicolás Maduro was first elected in 2013, succeeding Hugo Chavez who died of cancer after governing for 14 years.

He was re-elected in May last year, in a poll that had initially been planned for December. But the vote was marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging.

The country's National Electoral Council (CNE) put voter turnout at 46%, but political opposition groups allege it was even lower.

Venezuela's main opposition coalition said the election date had been changed to take advantage of disarray within opposition groups.

It also argued that some of the most promising candidates had been banned from standing or jailed, while many others had fled the country.


     

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