Venezuelan Opposition to Swear In New President in January

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado announced on Monday that Edmundo González, the opposition candidate, will be “sworn in” as the new president on January 10, 2025, coinciding with the end of Nicolás Maduro's current term. Machado's declaration comes despite Maduro's self-proclaimed victory in the disputed July 28 presidential election, which many observers have labeled a sham. The Maduro regime has faced criticism for its refusal to allow Machado to run, citing a court-imposed ban linked to her support for human rights sanctions. In her interview with the Spanish EFE news agency, Machado asserted that González “overwhelmingly won” the election, a claim supported by several countries and international organizations that have questioned the election's legitimacy. The opposition has released digital copies of the election tallies, contrasting with the Maduro regime's lack of transparency. The European Union has indicated that it cannot recognize the official results due to insufficient evidence, while the opposition's data suggests González won by a significant margin. Machado urged foreign governments to take a firm stance against Maduro's actions, which she described as a massive electoral fraud supported by the regime's military and institutions. Following the announcement of Maduro's victory, peaceful protests erupted nationwide, leading to a violent crackdown by the regime, resulting in at least 24 deaths and over 2,000 detentions, according to NGOs. Human rights advocates have called for the immediate release of those detained, emphasizing the need to uphold freedoms of expression and assembly.