Caracas, January 10 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Caracas Thursday morning for a second six-year term. 

The incumbent president begins his new term in office with the commitment to "promote the changes that are needed in Venezuela, to defend the right to peace and respect for the Constitution." 

During his inaugural address, Nicolás Maduro issued a call for the people of the world to take up the banners of freedom and independence in the face of imperialism.  He also condemned the manuevers of the United States against Venezuela and called on the European Union to respect the Bolivarian Revolution.  

On May 20th last year, Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president of Venezuela with 67.7 percent of the vote. 

The inauguration comes amid threats of military interventions and coups against the Venezuelan government by the United States and its allies in Latin America.  Maduro's new mandate also comes despite the economic war that has been unleashed against Venezuela by the United States and its European allies using economic sanctions.