Nicolás Maduro ordered an increase of 300% of the minimum wage on Monday, the 26th time he makes an announcement of this kind during his term. Also, an increase in the petro cryptocurrency was decreed and the president highlighted the economic management of his government, which he said in his annual report helped to turn Venezuela into the country with “greater socioeconomic equality”.
A Sinn Féin MLA has defended his attendance at the inauguration of the Venezuelan president and denied that the election was fraudulent. Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term as Venezuela's president last Thursday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Monday, through a statement, its “deep concern” regarding the “serious institutional crisis” and the “acts of intimidation” that led to the arrest and subsequent release of the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó , by officials of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin).
Officials of the Bolivarian Service of National Intelligence (Sebin) retained the deputy Juan Guaidó, President of the National Assembly (AN) and Venezuela’s President-in-charge, when he was going to an open Parliament hall in the north of the country. Minutes later, the parliamentarian was released and attended to the event with a wounded hand and ensuring that the Armed Forces do not want Nicolás Maduro, president considered de facto by the Parliament and part of the international community.
It seemed sure that, starting January 10, Venezuela would experience high uncertainty. Nicolás Maduro swore in the presidency for the 2019-2015 government period in front of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), when the constitution of that country dictates that it is before Parliament that the president must present the inauguration. Both the international community and the National Assembly (AN), declared in contempt by the Supreme Court, mark Maduro as an usurper. The illegitimacy of the president is discussed globally and Juan Guaidó is recognized as interim president of the Republic.
Argentina announced it does not recognize the legitimacy of the mandate initiated on 10 January by Nicolas Maduro, condemns the breakdown of constitutional order and rule of the law, and ratifies full recognition of the National Assembly as the only democratically elected branch of government in Venezuela.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn into a second term on Thursday amid international calls for him to step down, a devastating economic crisis and growing diplomatic isolation.
Mario Abdo Benítez, president of Paraguay, announced on Thursday the rupture of diplomatic relations with Venezuela after threats from the Venezuelan president in response to the repudiation of his new mandate by the Lima Group, of which Paraguay is a member.
Uruguay and Bolivia will be the only South American countries attending this Thursday the inauguration of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro for a second five year mandate. A regime which has become an increasingly international pariah for its non democratic practices, human rights abuses, and disastrous management of the economy creating a major humanitarian crisis with food and essential pharmaceutical shortages while some three million of Venezuelans have fled the country in desperation.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday warned he could take “diplomatic measures” against Latin American nations that signed a statement last week describing his second term, which starts on Thursday, as illegitimate.