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Canada has imposed new sanctions against 14 Venezuelan officials as President Nicolás Maduro was inaugurated on Friday for a third consecutive six-year term, prolonging his contentious leadership until 2031.
This occurred notwithstanding widespread protests and credible assessments indicating that Maduro’s opponent secured the election victory.
The ceremony took place within the Venezuelan legislative palace, heavily monitored by police, military, and intelligence personnel. Supporters clad in pro-Maduro attire gathered in the streets nearby to witness the event.
In his inaugural speech, Maduro accused the opposition of attempting to incite chaos, claiming that their inability to prevent the inauguration constituted “a great Venezuelan victory.” He further alleged that external forces, particularly the U.S. government, were “attacking” Venezuela, pledging to protect the nation’s “peace and sovereignty.”
“Today, more than ever, I feel the weight of my responsibility,” Maduro emphasized, asserting that his presidency was not granted by the United States or pro-imperialist regimes in Latin America.
The opposition reported that it had gathered data from more than 80% of electronic voting machines during the July 28 election, subsequently publishing these tallies online, which suggested that opposition candidate Edmundo González received double the votes compared to Maduro. Observers from the U.S.-based Carter Center, invited by the Venezuelan government, validated these opposition-published results.
Election analysts permitted by the government who reviewed the voting process indicated that the online records presented by the opposition appeared to maintain all original security features.
Canada, U.S., EU Announce Sanctions
On Friday, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly disclosed new sanctions targeting Venezuelan officials. These measures apply to 14 current and former high-ranking officials, “who have engaged in activities that have directly or indirectly supported human rights violations in Venezuela,” as per an official statement.
The sanctions specifically address the crackdown on protests that erupted following the election results.
“Maduro’s blatant actions prove that democracy and the rule of law are not guaranteed. We refuse to stand by while the democratic process is undermined, and citizens are repressed,” Joly articulated in a statement.
“Canada will continue to support the people of Venezuela in their quest for a peaceful and democratic society.”
To date, Canada has enacted sanctions against a total of 131 individuals from Venezuela.
Similarly, the European Union implemented sanctions against 15 key Venezuelan officials involved in the 2024 election, including members of the Supreme Court and the electoral authority, citing their roles in jeopardizing democracy within Venezuela.
The U.S. Treasury Department also announced additional sanctions, targeting prominent Venezuelan officials such as the president of the state oil company and the transportation minister, among others.
Protests Erupt in the Streets
On the eve of the swearing-in ceremony, protests against Maduro intensified in Caracas, where aides to opposition leader María Corina Machado reported her brief detention by security forces, alleging she was coerced into recording videos.
Machado, a prominent figure in the opposition barred from running for office, had emerged to rally support for González, advocating for him to be sworn in instead of Maduro. Following her speech, she departed on a motorcycle, but her convoy was reportedly intercepted by security forces. Her team later confirmed her detention.
Condemnation of the government’s actions came from various leaders across the Americas and Europe, who demanded her release. U.S. president-elect Donald Trump expressed his solidarity with Machado and González via social media, stressing that these “freedom fighters” must remain unharmed.
The government’s supporters refuted claims of Machado’s arrest, asserting that such reports were fabrications aimed at inciting international unrest.
Global Condemnation Over Election Results
The controversies surrounding Maduro’s inauguration added to a long history of allegations regarding electoral malpractice and oppressive measures to suppress dissent. Electoral authorities loyal to Maduro declared him the election victor just hours after polling concluded on July 28, but diverged from previous practices by failing to present comprehensive vote counts.
The lack of transparency prompted international backlash, leading Maduro to request an audit of the election results by the nation’s high court, populated by his allies. The court reaffirmed his victory without substantial evidence and encouraged the electoral commission to disclose vote counts.
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Despite this, neither the electoral body nor the ruling party has provided convincing evidence of Maduro’s win, with observers permitted to tally votes without opposition interference.
The resultant disputes sparked international outrage and public demonstrations, culminating in severe crackdowns. Reports indicated over 2,000 arrests during the protests, with more than 20 fatalities and allegations of torture among detainees.
Outside the inauguration ceremony, Maduro’s supporters expressed elation. Among them, 18-year-old Maricarmen Ruiz was moved to tears, exclaiming her happiness that González had not been “imposed” as the president.
González’s Brother Kidnapped
The number of heads of state present at Maduro’s inauguration remains unclear, though footage indicated attendance from figures such as Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega and Cuba’s Miguel Diaz-Canel, while Maduro claimed delegates from over 120 nations were in attendance.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a Maduro ally, chose to forego the event in protest of the recent detentions of notable Venezuelan opposition figures and a human rights advocate.
During Maduro’s previous inauguration in 2019, leaders including Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel and former Bolivian President Evo Morales attended. The 2018 election was widely viewed as fraudulent due to the exclusion of major opposition parties.
The fate of González, who went into exile in Spain in September, remains uncertain as he had promised to return by the day of the inauguration. His safety has been threatened by government officials with arrest upon his return. Recently, González reported that his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, had been kidnapped in Caracas, raising suspicions that the government was involved, as indicated in a statement from González’s daughter, Mariana González de Tudares.
“At what point did being related to Edmundo González Urrutia become a crime?” she questioned.
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