Maduro Takes Office: Venezuela Closes Border with Colombia
The measure will last three days, until January 13
January 10 is inauguration day for Nicolas Maduro, who is entering a new presidential term after 12 years at the helm of Venezuela, which coincided with a serious economic and social crisis.
In a related development, Venezuela decided to close its border with Colombia for three days because of what Tachira state governor Freddy Bernal called an “international conspiracy.” “We have information about an international conspiracy to disturb the peace of Venezuelans, especially in this border area,” Bernal commented, “so I ask for understanding from all sectors of society, cattle ranchers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and people who move along the border between Venezuela and Colombia, so that they understand why we are closing the border with Colombia from 5:00 today until 5:00 next Monday morning by order of President Nicolas Maduro.”
Maduro, who has been president since 2013, was declared the winner of the July 2024 election by both the Venezuelan electoral commission and the supreme court. However, the election was widely criticized by the opposition, which in turn said its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, had won a convincing victory and called in vain for the electoral commission to release detailed election results.
Russia, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Honduras, Iran, and Nicaragua recognized Maduro’s election, in contrast to the USA and several South and Central American countries (Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Uruguay), which, on the contrary, expressed doubts about the election.
