Home » As Venezuela’s presidential inauguration looms, Church calls for ‘respect for human rights’

As Venezuela’s presidential inauguration looms, Church calls for ‘respect for human rights’

Caracas Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo. / Credit: Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM)

Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 9, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

OnFriday,Jan.10,accordingtoVenezuelanlaw,thenewpresidentoftherepublicwhowontheJuly28,2024,electionforthe2025–2031termmustbeswornin.  Whilethecountry’sNationalElectoralCouncilcertifiedincumbentPresidentNicholasMaduroasthewinner,itfailedtoproducethevotetalliesasrequiredbylawtosubstantiatetheresults.MeanwhileoppositioncandidateEdmundoGonzálezUrrutiaclaimedalandslidevictoryandsaidhiscampaignhadcollected80%ofthevotetalliestoproveit. Todate,variouscountriesaroundtheworldhaverecognizedGonzálezasthepresidentlegitimatelyelectedbyallVenezuelans. Inthemidstofthecomplicatedpoliticalandsocialscenario,CaracasArchbishopRaúlBiordcalledfor“respectforhumanandcitizenrights”duringtheinaugurationofthe2025JubileeYearinCaracasonJan.6. Theprelateaskedthatpoliticalactorsguarantee,inademocraticframework,“freedomofthought,expression,andsocialaction,andfortheendofallformsofinti