Maduro defends Chávez's legacy upon taking office.

247 - Nicolás Maduro is the newly inaugurated president of Venezuela. In a ceremony filled with references to former president Hugo Chávez and boycotted by the opposition, the heir to Bolivarianism took office. "I swear before the Constitution approved by the people," said Maduro, at the beginning of a lengthy trial to uphold the laws of the country, with his hand resting on the Magna Carta and before the president of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello. Following this, the newly inaugurated president began a long speech recalling passages from his predecessor's government.

The presidential sash was handed to the newly inaugurated president by María Gabriela, Hugo Chávez's daughter. Maduro thanked the United Nations and UNASUR for their expressions of support, as well as the 61 heads of state who attended the ceremony. "I want to thank you for the efforts you have made, given the special circumstances we are experiencing," he said. During his speech, Maduro spoke of creating a center for advanced studies of Hugo Chávez's thought, in an attempt to preserve his predecessor's legacy.

While Maduro was speaking, a man in a red shirt rushed into the small room and tried to grab the microphone from the president-elect. The TV cut the transmission at that moment. When the images returned, Maduro resumed speaking: "Without a doubt, security failed! I could have been shot," he said. And then: "Incident resolved. We will speak with this young man. God knows what despair brings."

Convocation

Before taking office, Maduro called for a "great mobilization" of the people in the streets of downtown Caracas for his swearing-in. "For the first time in history, a Constitution was made with open doors," said the new president, recalling the constituent assembly held during Chávez's government. Maduro defended the Constitution, saying that it did not abolish private property or freedom of expression, as had been said it would.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, upon arriving in Caracas this Friday, reinforced the support of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) for the elections in Venezuela. "It is a statement [released by the bloc] that reiterates Unasur's commitment to democratic processes, while also establishing Unasur's position as one of support for stability, peace, and the processes that legally constitute the foundation of democracy," the president told reporters upon arriving at her hotel in Caracas.

Unasur

Yesterday, an extraordinary summit met to discuss the situation in the country and called for respect for the election results. At the meeting, which ended in the early hours of Friday morning, the bloc also acknowledged the importance of the National Electoral Council's (CNE) decision to verify 100% of the electronic voting machines, fulfilling a request from the opposition in the country.

Dilma further added that the statement "defines a positive stance regarding the National Electoral Council and repudiates the violence, deaths, and injuries, and also concludes with a statement indicating that there will be a UNASUR commission to monitor the investigations into human rights."

The meeting was convened following protests and demonstrations led by the defeated candidate and governor of the state of Miranda, Henrique Capriles. After the meeting, the heads of state presented a document outlining five points of consensus. In addition to recognizing the National Electoral Council (CNE) as a sovereign body to receive complaints, UNASUR congratulated the president-elect and stated its intention to cooperate in resolving problems that may affect democracy in the region.

Unasur will appoint an observer mission to monitor the investigation into the violent acts that occurred this week during the demonstrations demanding a recount of the votes. The government accuses the opposition of being responsible for the deaths of eight people due to the protests.

With Brazil Agency