Nicolás Maduro Begins Controversial Third Term Amid Global Condemnation

Maduro's inauguration follows disputed election results, international protests, and increased sanctions from Western nations.

Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as Venezuela's president despite widespread allegations of election fraud and international criticism.
Opposition candidate Edmundo González reportedly won a landslide victory based on opposition-verified voting machine receipts, but the government declared Maduro the winner with 52% of the vote.
Thousands of Venezuelans protested domestically and abroad, while opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from running, briefly appeared at a rally before being detained and released.
The United States increased its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $25 million, with similar sanctions imposed on key officials by the UK, Canada, and the European Union.
Maduro's inauguration was attended by only two allied leaders, highlighting his growing isolation, while González remains in exile and has pledged to return to Venezuela to claim the presidency.