president of venezuela Nicolás Maduro His opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, was sworn in for a third six-year term after a contentious election in which he claimed voter fraud and declared victory.

Maduro began a new term on Friday, defying international pressure and U.S.-led sanctions that recognized Gonzalez as the winner of the July vote.

“May the new presidential term be a period of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy,” Maduro said, pledging to abide by the country’s laws. “I swear on history, on my life, that I will complete (my mission).”

Maduro’s inauguration took place a day after the opposition leader took office Maria Corina Machado In a rare public appearance, he led a protest against his rule. Machado’s team said she was briefly detained during the demonstration.

“I am now in a safe place and more determined than ever to continue to be with you until the end,” Machado posted on social media after his release.

Maduro, former bus driver, comes to power after death of leftist leader Hugo Chavez In 2013, his tenure was marred by accusations of authoritarianism and economic and political crises.

In 2018, for example, he faced another disputed presidential election in which several senior opposition leaders were barred from running.

Afterwards, the leader of the opposition Juan Guaido Challenge Maduro to victory and seize the presidency. In 2019, the United States and several of its allies in the Western Hemisphere recognized Guaidó as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

That same year, Washington expanded its Comprehensive sanctions against Venezuela and deepening its economic problems. Nearly 7.7 million people have fled the country, some due to accusations of political repression and others due to economic instability.

The July election gave the opposition hope of a peaceful overthrow of Maduro, but the current president quickly declared victory, claiming he had received 51% of the vote.

The country’s electoral authorities sided with Maduro, although they did not release the usual detailed results from Venezuelan polling stations, sparking criticism over a lack of transparency.

Meanwhile, the opposition released what it claimed was an official vote count showing Gonzalez winning by a wide margin.

Many left-wing leaders in South America also criticized Maduro and questioned the election results.

Maduro’s victory in the July 28 presidential election sparked widespread protests in the weeks after the results were announced, but a government crackdown has since quelled the demonstrations.

During post-election demonstrations, an estimated 2,000 people were arrested and 25 killed.

Still, the opposition is trying to maintain pressure on Maduro’s government, calling for protests this week ahead of the inauguration. Machado was joined by hundreds of demonstrators on Thursday, but the numbers were significantly smaller than at post-election protests.

Maduro’s government accused the opposition of plotting with foreign powers to overthrow the president and issued an arrest warrant in September for Gonzalez, who fled the country and was later arrested. get asylum in Spain.

Gonzalez, a former diplomat, visited the United States earlier this week and met with President Joe Biden during a tour of countries in the Americas region.

The White House said Gonzalez and Biden “expressed deep concern about the unacceptable and indiscriminate repression by Nicolás Maduro and his representatives against peaceful protesters, pro-democracy activists and civil society.”

The U.S. government has long referred to Gonzalez as Venezuela’s “president-elect.”