This January 10, in the midst of an atmosphere of political controversy and international tensions, Nicolás Maduro is preparing to be sworn in as president of Venezuela for another term.
However, this ceremony will be marked by the notable absence of several world leaders.
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has confirmed that he will not attend the eventciting as the main reason the lack of transparency and freedom in the elections that brought Maduro to his new mandate.
This decision reflects a critical stance towards the Venezuelan electoral process and reinforces the distance that Colombia has maintained with the Chavista regime in recent years.
For its part, the European Union (EU) has decided that its ambassadors will not be present at the ceremony.
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This measure follows the line of not recognizing Maduro’s victory in the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, due to the irregularities denounced by the opposition and international observers.
Among the presidents who will not attend the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro are:
- Joe Biden, because the United States does not recognize Maduro’s “re-election”
- Pedro Sánchez, president of Spain
- Giorgia Meloni, first minister of Italy
- Javier Milei, Argentina
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil
In the case of Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo expressed that a person representing the country will be sent to be present.
Regarding the support panorama, Nicolás Maduro has the support of countries such as Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea, Belarus, Turkey and Qatar.
These allies have congratulated Maduro on his victory, showing their support for his continuity in power. Within Latin America, the president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, and the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, have also expressed their recognition of Maduro.
On the other hand, the figure of Edmundo González Urrutia, who is proclaimed as the true winner of the elections according to the votes registered by the opposition, receives support from various nations and international figures.
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Countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, the United States, and the European Parliament have recognized González as the president-elect.
In addition, opposition leaders and former Latin American presidents have shown their support during their tour of several countries in the region, seeking to consolidate his position and pressure for a political transition.
The situation worsens with the militarization of Venezuela and the protests called by the opposition, led by figures such as María Corina Machado, who has asked citizens to take to the streets in rejection of Maduro’s inauguration.
Tension has risen even further with reports of kidnapping and repression against opponents, including relatives of González Urrutia.
This protest not only marks the beginning of a new mandate for Maduro, but also highlights the deep political division inside and outside Venezuela, with implications for regional stability and international relations in the short and long term.
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