International
Maduro denounces an attempted coup d’état before the voices that question his victory
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, denounced on Monday that an attempted coup d’état “of a fascist nature” is underway, in view of the questions of his re-election – announced on Sunday by the electoral body -, rejected by the majority opposition and a good part of the international community.
“An attempt is being made to impose a coup d’état, again, of a fascist and counter-revolutionary nature in Venezuela,” Maduro said during the proclamation as re-elected president, at the headquarters of the National Electoral Council (CNE) in Caracas.
Maduro assured that this is “the same movie” and “with a similar script” that lived – he assured – in 2019, in which “the protagonists” are “the same”, on the one hand “the people who want peace” and on the other hand “elites full of a counterrevolutionary, fascist project, tied to the American empire.”
He pointed out that “the first failed steps are being rehearsed to destabilize Venezuela” and to impose “again” a “mantle of aggressions and damage,” a “kind of film (Juan) Guaidó 2.0”, in reference to the period in which the opponent proclaimed himself “president in charge” of the country, a “mandato” – recognized by half a hundred countries – that he could never exercise, lacking institutions and real power.
“I tell the plotters, those involved and those who endorse this operation against Venezuelan democracy that we already know the film and this time there will not be any kind of weakness. This time in Venezuela the Constitution will be respected, the law will be respected and neither hatred, nor fascism, nor lies nor manipulation will be imposed,” he stressed.
According to the president, “the same ultra-right, the same groups led by American imperialism, the same countries” are behind this coup plan.
Maduro celebrated, in his act of proclamation as re-elected president, the “feat” of having defeated fascism in Sunday’s elections, in which, according to data released by the National Electoral Council (CNE), he obtained the victory – with 51.2% of the votes -, a result questioned by several countries.
“Overcoming fascism, demons, demons, is a historical feat and our people have done it, once again our people did it again,” said the Chavista leader after receiving the credential, which will allow him to govern the country until 2031, from the hands of the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Elvis Amoroso.
Maduro considered that the votes, in which there was a participation of 59%, represented a historic day that concluded with the opinion of the CNE, a result that, he assured, he receives with humility and as a “man of the way.”
“The definitive battle against fascism took place in this land and we beat him,” he insisted.
Even though opponents assure that some audits are missing from the result of the elections, the CNE formally declared Maduro president despite the allegations of the largest anti-Chavista coalition, the Democratic United Platform (PUD), which believes that its standard-bearer, Edmundo González Urrutia, won the elections with a wide margin.
González Urrutia denounced that “all electoral rules” have been violated, due, among other things, to the refusal of the CNE to deliver to the PUD the minutes of totalization of the votes in more than 50% of the electoral centers.
On the other hand, the Government of Venezuela expressed that it has no interest in relating “with a criminal like” the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, whom he called “fascist and corrupt” after he questioned the results of the presidential elections in the Caribbean country, which give as a winner, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE), President Nicolás Maduro for a third consecutive term, and that the vast majority of countries in the region also question.
“Fascist and corrupt president, we don’t want to relate to a criminal like you, who only sought Venezuela to try to enrich himself with our oil,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean nation, Yván Gil, in X.
In response to Bukele’s publication on this social network, the chancellor added: “The lies and ridicules that you promote on social networks here will not happen, as your rated criminals will not pass.”
The Salvadoran president, who never showed interest in interacting with the Maduro Executive, said that there was “fraud” in the presidential elections of Venezuela and added that he will not re-establish relations until that country has “real elections.”
For her part, the Minister of the Interior of Chile, Carolina Tohá, said that the decision of the Venezuelan Government to expel Chilean diplomats and six other countries in the region is “shameful” and “incomprehensible” and assured that the measure “leaves in abandonment” the more than 700,000 Venezuelans who live in Chile.
“The decision (of the Venezuelan Government) is worrying for many reasons. It is one more symptom of the delicate situation that is being experienced in that country, especially because it leaves in the abandonment of the more than 700,000 Venezuelans who currently live in Chile,” Tohá said in a public statement from the La Moneda presidential palace.
The Government of Venezuela demanded on Monday from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay “the immediate withdrawal of their representatives in Venezuelan territory,” in rejection of their “interrenistic actions and statements” about this Sunday’s presidential elections and also decided to “withdraw all diplomatic personnel from the missions” in these seven Latin American countries.
Minister Tohá explained that the decision does not imply a total breakdown of diplomatic relations, but “in practice it means that there are no diplomatic delegations in either of the two countries.”
The Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, was one of the first leaders to demand transparency in the counting of votes in the elections early Monday morning, a request that was joined by multiple leaders from the region.
The progressive president warned that the results offered by the CNE “are difficult to believe” and that his country will not recognize “any result that is not verifiable.”
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
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