Despite US Interventionism, Venezuela's Maduro Sworn In for 2nd Presidential Term

Venezuela President Maduro began his second term in office Thursday after he was sworn in at the country's supreme court as leaders and delegations from 94 nations from around the globe attended the event along with representatives from OPEC, the African Union. UNASUR, Caricom and CELAC attended the swearing-in ceremony.

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Maduro assumes a new term for which he has committed to "promote the changes that are needed in Venezuela, to defend the right to peace and respect for the Constitution."

On May 20 last year, Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president of Venezuela with 67.7 percent of the vote. 

Maduro began his inauguration speech by thanking world leaders and representatives of over 94 countries who have attended his inauguration today, defying U.S. attempts to isolate the country. "Our Bolivarian constitution is an expression of peace and of the people," Maduro told world leaders and representatives as well as Venezuelan senior officials attending the event.

The inauguration comes amid threats of military interventions and coups against the progressive government by the United States and its allies in Latin America. Maduro's new mandate also comes despite the economic war that has been unleashed against the Maduro government by the United States and its European allies using economic sanctions.

"Venezuela is at the center of a global war waged by US imperialism and their satellite states," Maduro told the crowd commenting on such attacks and interventions by the U.S. and its allies. "Here I am, ready to take our country forward. Here we are with our democracy and our people."

A day earlier, Maduro warned that his country was facing a coup attempt ordered by the Donald Trump administration and the so-called Lima Group, the anti-Venezuelan organization founded in 2016 and includes 14 American states who are led by right-wing governments.

Right-wing governments in Latin America have already begun their attack on the newly elected government of President Maduro as President of Paraguay Mario Abdo Benítez announced Thursday, shortly after Maduro was sworn in, that his country breaks diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Abdo Benitez announced that the embassy will be closed and diplomatic staff will be withdrawn.