Undoubtedly, one of the particularities of President Nicolás Maduro’s oath of office for the 2019-2025 constitutional term on January 10, 2019, was the place it took place, the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice, as the National Assembly, the body that usually holds this ceremony, was in contempt since 2016 and its acts were null and void.
Therefore, Article 231 of the Constitution was activated as is states that “the elected candidate shall take office as President of the Republic on January 10 of the first year of his/her constitutional term by taking an oath before the National Assembly. If for any supervening reason, the person elected President of the Republic cannot be sworn in before the National Assembly, he shall take the oath of office before the Supreme Court of Justice.”
With the strongest commitment, abiding by the Constitution and taking office as President of the Republic for the 2019-2025 term, Nicolás Maduro told the people: “I am standing here ready to democratically take the reins of our Homeland and lead it to a better, greater destiny. We have abided by and we will continue to abide by the Constitution, democracy and our people.”
In his speech, he recognized the big challenges of his office and expressed a new beginning of the Bolivarian Revolution was imperative to change everything that needed to be changed “in order to improve the people’s wellbeing and consolidate the country’s independence and sovereignty.”
As Chávez once said: “To reach the path, with no return, of prosperity and economic growth, to achieve social security and protection, and the dream of social happiness in socialism.”
“I want to correct many mistakes we have made,” stressed President Maduro and reaffirmed the lines of action to achieve that goal: First, the consolidation of peace, independence and unity of Venezuelans, social, and political and economic dialogue; and second, the construction of a path towards stable, economic recovery, growth and prosperity, and the fight against indolence, minimalism, bureaucratism and corruption.
President Maduro’s oath of office that year was attended by heads of State and Government and representatives from more than 94 countries and social movements who ratified their respect for Venezuela.
With the victory of President Maduro in the presidential elections on May 20, 2018, when the socialist leader was elected with 6,248,864 votes, democracy in Venezuela was strengthened as President Nicolás Maduro took the following oath:
“I swear on the Venezuelan people, I swear on the legacy of our ancestors and Indigenous Chief Guaicaipuro, I swear on Negro Primero and our afrodescendant people, I swear on Liberator Simón Bolívar and the liberating armies of America, I swear on the legacy of our beloved Commander Hugo Chávez, I swear on the children of Venezuela and their future, that I will not give rest to my arm or rest to my soul, and that I will abide by and enforce the postulates and mandates of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to defend the independence and absolute integrity of the Homeland, bring social and economic prosperity to our people and build the Socialism of the 21st Century, as mandated by Commander Chávez. I swear on our Homeland! I swear on our people! I swear on our Almighty God and my life!” sworn President Maduro on January 10, 2019 before the Supreme Court of Justice.
This oath is more relevant today than ever after the countless attacks against Venezuela by imperial forces.
Venezuela has been battered, but its president has remained firm as his oath to face attempts against the sovereignty and self-determination of the Venezuelan people.