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Venezuela Deploys 1,200 Troops Ahead of Maduro's January 10 Inauguration; Opposition Backs González Despite Arrest Threats

Jan 5, 2025, 04:44 PM

Venezuela is experiencing heightened tensions ahead of President Nicolás Maduro's scheduled inauguration for a new term on January 10, 2025. The government has deployed 1,200 army personnel and heavily militarized Caracas, with the military counterintelligence agency DGCIM—not the regular army—leading security operations by setting up checkpoints and verifying vehicles and IDs, causing long lines entering the city. Officials, including Jorge Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello, have warned that opposition leader Edmundo González will be arrested if he returns to Venezuela, accusing him of usurpation of functions and treason, and declared that foreign ex-presidents intending to visit will be considered persona non grata. The opposition, led by figures such as María Corina Machado, is calling for supporters to mobilize on January 10 in support of González, who they claim is the rightful president-elect despite being wanted by authorities. The National Assembly is set to convene on Sunday, January 5, to begin the new legislative period and elect the new leadership for 2025. Maduro has called on Venezuelans to pledge against foreign interventionism on January 10, emphasizing a fusion of popular military to guarantee peace during his inauguration, and affirmed that the president will be sworn in within Venezuela. The situation has drawn concern from regional observers as the country braces for possible unrest.