Here’s what we know

VENEZUELA – Venezuela is set to inaugurate a head of state on Friday – but there are still two men claiming to be the nation’s rightful president. Incumbent Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to attend a swearing-in ceremony on January 10 to begin his third term in power, despite many countries around the world disputing his claims to have won the presidential election in July. His challenger Edmundo González Urrutia, who had been in exile in Spain since September, is determined to return to the capital Caracas by January 10 to take office, even under the threat of arrest by Venezuelan authorities. Here’s what we know about the power struggle and what it means for the country and region.

Maduro and González both claimed victory in the presidential election on July 28. Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, a body stacked with Maduro allies, formally declared Maduro the winner without providing voting tallies. The opposition disputed the claim and released tens of thousands of tallies gathered from across the country, saying they proved González won by a landslide.

Independent observers and CNN’s own analysis concluded that the tallies published by the opposition are likely to be valid, and several countries including the United States recognized Gonzalez as president-elect in recent months. Thousands of Venezuelans protested the results in the immediate aftermath of the vote, demanding transparency. Many marched in the streets and clashed with police, fed up with the prospect of another Maduro presidency.

Venezuela’s government responded by launching a massive crackdown on the country’s opposition movement, arresting more than two thousand people, including hundreds of minors, in the first week after the election.

Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office later issued a warrant for the arrest of González, prompting him to flee the country, and his fellow opposition leader María Corina Machado to go into hiding.

González has long vowed to return to Venezuela to form a new government and prevent a new Maduro term. Earlier this week, he urged the military to recognize him as their commander-in-chief and “put an end to the leadership” of Maduro, who has been in power since 2013. (CNN)

Photo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (left) and opposition leader in exile Edmundo González (right) both claimed victory in July’s presidential election. (Getty Images)