Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sworn in for second term Thursday Jan 10,2019

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a new six-year term on Thursday Jan 10,2019 as the country's economycontinues to deteriorate and diplomatic isolation increases.

The inauguration follows Nicolas Maduro's controversial victory in 2017 presidential election that was largely boycotted by the opposition and criticised by the United States,EU and others as a "sham".

The 56-year-old socialist leader was sworn in at the Supreme Court before an audience of hundreds, rather than the sidelined, opposition-controlled National Assembly, before heading to a ceremony at Venezuela's military academy

"I swear on behalf of the people of Venezuela ... I swear on my life," Maduro said as he took the oath of office. After being presented with the presidential sash, Maduro turned to salute the crowd.

Nicolas Maduro's new mandate will keep him at the helm of the oil-rich, cash-strapped country until at least 2025