From the Elliptical Hall, where he was sworn in for his new six-year term of government, before the public powers, deputies, military authorities and international guests from 125 countries, the president ratified the libertarian character of the Bolivarian Revolution.

The ruler evoked the figure of Commander Hugo Chávez (1954-2013), of whom he said “he is always present in our lives” and to whom he swore absolute loyalty to his legacy, to his sowing, struggles and dreams, which “were the originals”, he added.

Maduro stressed that the Bolivarian leader made the historic feat of bringing to the 21st century the ideas of the men and women who, on horseback, drove the Spanish empire from these lands.

To those who like to shoot at Venezuela from abroad and tarnish it, I say that “we are the builders of this Constitution, which was born despite the oligarchs of the surnames and against the grain of the empires, and guarantees a social state of law and justice.”

He stressed that the constitutional text was approved by the people and has been defended by them, and is victorious because the country is at peace and this act is possible because Venezuela exercises its full national sovereignty and independence.

Maduro stressed this inauguration is “a great Venezuelan victory for peace, they could not and will not be able to,” he said in reference to the conspiratorial plans of the native and international ultra-right, accompanied by US imperialism and its satellite governments.

He said that they turned the presidential election into a world election, “it was the jewel in the crown,” and affirmed that fascism and the oligarchy are defeated and will win in any circumstance that comes their way because “we were not born on the day of traitors and cowards.”

Imperialism and the extreme right will not learn any lesson, he pointed out, and certified that “Venezuela is not imposed a President, no one in this world, they have not been able to and will never be able to,” he insisted.

“I am of the people and I owe my life and soul to the people and the power that I carry belongs to the people and I owe myself to the people,” he emphasized.

He also assured that he has more awareness than ever, which is due to those who elected him, to the people, and he ratified that he will never be part of the oligarchies of surnames, colonialisms and imperialisms, whatever they are called.

The president called on all sectors of the country to a great day of inclusive dialogue to proceed with the transformation of the country, through a constitutional reform, whose decree he announced he will proceed to sign to establish the commission in charge.

When he was sworn in this Friday before the National Assembly, Maduro said he would comply with all the mandates and obligations emanating from the Constitution and the national laws of the Republic, and he assured this new presidential period will be one of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy.

ef/lam/jcd