On January 11, 2025, Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as President of Venezuela following controversial elections. The inauguration ceremony was held under high security and attended by a limited number of foreign dignitaries, including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
International criticism has mounted against Maduro, with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union announcing new sanctions targeting several individuals close to the president. The U.S. Treasury Department revealed sanctions against eight individuals, including the heads of state-owned oil company PDVSA and airline Conviasa, as well as senior military and police officials.
Bradley T. Smith, acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that these individuals have continued repressive activities in Venezuela since the elections last year. The U.S. State Department has increased the reward to $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
London has also imposed sanctions on 15 individuals linked to Maduro, while EU member states announced similar measures against 15 officials from Venezuela's electoral commission. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasized that Maduro lacks the legitimacy of a democratically elected president.
Opposition reactions have been swift, with Edmundo Gonzalez, a rival who fled the country after the elections, expressing his intention to return despite a warrant for his arrest. He claims to be the legitimate winner of the July elections and accused Maduro of staging a coup during his inauguration.
Gonzalez stated, “I represent millions of citizens who were prevented from voting abroad and approximately 8 million Venezuelans in the country, and I have a duty to defend this authority.” The U.S., Canada, and some South American countries have also recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the elections. However, the election commission, aligned with Maduro, declared him the victor.
The EU, which does not recognize Maduro's victory, has demanded the release of electoral documents as evidence, but the electoral commission has yet to comply with this request.