Some described their mood after Friday’s ceremony at the legislative palace in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, like an emotional hangover while others said they feel abandoned.

The inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro left his opponents to grapple with with conflicting feelings of hope and disappointment on Saturday, pondering why the self-described socialist leader could not be stopped despite credible evidence that he had lost the election last year.

The United States offered a $25 million (£20 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro on Friday, as the Venezuelan dictator was sworn in for a third term.

Up to $25m is being offered by the US for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and his incoming interior minister Diosdado Cabello.

The US on Friday ramped up pressure on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and his regime, including raising a reward for his arrest on narcotics charges and new sanctions on officials in response to his contested election and crackdown on opposition.

The inauguration of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro left his opponents grappling with mixed feelings of hope and disappointment, wondering why the self-styled socialist leader could not be stopped despite credible evidence that he had lost the election last year.

Pro-Chavéz leader Nicolás Maduro was sworn in on Friday as president of Venezuela for the period 2025-2031 by the National Assembly of Venezuela controlled by the ruling party, even though the majority opposition claims that Edmundo González Urrutia was the winner of last July's elections.

After claiming victory in Venezuela’s July presidential election despite evidence to the contrary, the country’s long-time ruler Nicolás Maduro has been sworn in for a third six-year term, prompting further outcry,