Erdogan declares support for Maduro's new term in Venezuela.

247 - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro received a message of support from his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called to express support for the Venezuelan people, sovereignty and the new term he will be sworn into office next Thursday (10).

"He reaffirmed his support for me as the elected president of the Republic," said Maduro. The Venezuelan president also reported that Erdogan announced the presence at the inauguration ceremony of an important delegation from Turkey, led by its vice-president, Fuat Oktay."

The Venezuelan head of state also assured that Caracas will maintain constant communication with Ankara regarding all agreements made recently between the two sides that benefit their respective peoples.

Erdogan traveled to Caracas in December 2018 to participate in the Venezuela-Türkiye Business Forum, in order to strengthen bilateral ties.

Maduro was re-elected in the May 2018 elections with more than 6 million votes (68% of the total), a number considered historic. His second term will begin next Thursday, January 10th. However, opposition parties, some Latin American and European countries, as well as the United States, reject the result and propose not recognizing Maduro's second term.

The re-elected president claims to be the victim of a global conspiracy led by the imperialist US government and assures that he will respond reciprocally to those who do not recognize his presidency.

Maduro's victory, however, was respected and welcomed by various world leaders, including Erdogan himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bolivian President Evo Morales, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and El Salvador's President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, among others.