Nicolás Maduro used the “original” Constitution signed by former President Hugo Chávez in 1999 for his inauguration, a text that does not include indefinite reelection
On the morning of this Friday, January 10, Nicolás Maduro swore in for a third term, despite serious questions from the international community and the Venezuelan opposition itself to the results of the presidential elections, due to the lack of detailed results of those elections.
As dictated by the Constitution, which according to Maduro will be reformed again this year, the inauguration for a new presidential term must take place on January 10 before the National Assembly. Traditionally, the swearing-in of Venezuelan leaders has taken place in the session chamber. But on this occasion the event took place in the Elliptical Hall, where the ark of the country’s Independence Act is kept.
In the Elliptical Hall, which has a small space, deputies from the National Assembly (the parliament has 277 main members), foreign leaders, diplomatic representatives and special guests were gathered. Without knowing the number of parliamentarians present, it was reported that there was sufficient quorum to begin the solemn session. Some of the deputies had to remain standing and although it was reported that there was a quorum, it was not detailed how many were actually present.
According to Nicolás Maduro himself, they received delegates from 125 countries, although a good part of the guests were not representing their governments. Several of the attendees were those invited to the “anti-fascist fair” that was also held in Caracas.
Among the rulers who attended were only those of Cuba (Miguel Díaz-Canel), Nicaragua (Daniel Ortega), Antigua and Barbuda (Gaston Browne), the Sarahaui Arab Democratic Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ralph Gonsalves). He also greeted special envoys from Russia and China, as well as representatives of the Venezuelan business community such as Luigi Pisella, president of Conindustria.
Among those attending the event was a small representation of the family of former President Hugo Chávez, his political mentor. Former minister Adán Chávez and the youngest daughter and president of Inparques, Rosinés Chávez Rodríguez, attended.
The presence of journalists was also practically non-existent, because the transmission was controlled by Venezuelan Television. The accredited press was informed that only photographers and cameramen could enter the National Assembly. The rest would be left in a room at the Miraflores Palace to observe the event on a monitor. Some decided to withdraw. The technicians who were taken to the Federal Legislative Palace were also unable to enter the Elliptical Hall and had to wait on the steps outside. Inside the room there were only cameras for the official transmission controlled by the Minci.
Another detail was the swearing-in itself. Maduro used the “original” Constitution signed by former President Hugo Chávez in 1999. In that text, for example, indefinite reelection is not contemplated.
Among some disqualifications, Maduro also allowed himself to joke about Edmundo González. Hearing a noise he asked: «Has Edmundo arrived? Pick it up, someone fell over there (…) as I’m waiting for it. “I’m nervous.”
González Urrutia did not travel to the country this Friday, as he had said he had planned for weeks, due to the closure of the airspace and express request from the company itself. Maria Corina Machado to guarantee her physical integrity, after she herself was arbitrarily detained and released on the afternoon of January 9.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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