Nicolás Maduro Sworn in for Third Term as President of Venezuela

caracas - Nicolás Maduro has been inaugurated for his third term as president of Venezuela, amidst controversy and opposition claims of electoral fraud.

Nicolás Maduro has been inaugurated for his third term as president of Venezuela. Maduro took the oath on Friday before the parliament, promising that his third term would be 'a period of peace'.

According to the opposition, Maduro was convincingly defeated by opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia in the elections last July. However, the electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner. The opposition accused Maduro of fraud and presented evidence that Urrutia was the actual winner. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent months to protest, with demonstrations continuing on Thursday.

In response to Maduro's inauguration, the opposition stated on Friday that it amounts to a coup. 'With Nicolás Maduro's assumption of power, supported by gross violence and ignoring the sovereignty expressed by the people, a coup has been achieved,' the coalition of opposition parties said in a statement.

Maduro has been in power in Venezuela since 2013. During his tenure, the country has suffered from a severe economic crisis, leading millions of people to emigrate abroad over the past twelve years.