Maduro sworn in as Venezuelan president
Iran Press TV
Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:11PM GMT
Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuela’s new president, succeeding the country’s late leader Hugo Chavez who died of cancer in March.
The inauguration, which was attended by dozens of leaders from across the region (including Brazil, Cuba and Colombia), Iran and some Arab countries, took place on Friday.
"I swear it before the eternal memory of the supreme commander (Chavez)," Maduro said after as he was sworn in by National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, AFP reported.
Thousands gathered on the streets of Caracas to show their support for Maduro and demand the new president continue the socialist system begun by his charismatic predecessor.
The ceremony follows a decision by the country’s National Electoral Council to carry out an audit on the votes cast in Sunday’s disputed presidential election.
Socialist Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuela’s presidential election on April 14. He won 50.8 percent of the vote against 49.0 percent for the opposition leader Henrique Capriles, a difference of about 300,000 ballots.
Capriles said he did not recognize the official results, claiming that there were more than 300,000 incidents from Sunday’s poll that would need to be examined.
Since the electoral authority declared Maduro the winner, the opposition has staged several violent protests, which has left at least seven people dead and over 60 others injured.
On March 8, Maduro became Venezuela’s acting president, following the death of late President Hugo Chavez, who lost a two-year-long battle with cancer on March 5. Maduro has promised to continue the socialist policies of the former leader.
MN/MHB
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