Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be sworn in for a third six-year term after a reelection widely viewed as illegitimate and as his administration grows increasingly brazen in cracking down on its opponents.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose nearly 12 years in office have been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, was sworn in for a third term on Friday, staying in power despite a six-month dispute over an election and international calls for him to stand aside.

The Venezuelan capital Caracas was getting ready on Friday to host the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro's third consecutive term as leader. Several central avenues of the city were blocked for the celebration under heavy police patrols.