Despite prolonged electoral disputes, Nicolás Maduro has been sworn in for a third term as Venezuela’s president. The ceremony, held on Friday, came amid heightened U.S. sanctions and an increased bounty of $25 million for his capture, according to a Reuters report.

In his speech, Maduro indirectly referred to the sanctions, stating that the outgoing U.S. administration “does not know how to take revenge on us.”

Meanwhile, opposition leader Edmundo González, who visited the U.S. earlier this week, announced plans to return to Venezuela to assume the presidency. The current government, however, accused him of fascist conspiracies and declared that he would be arrested upon his return. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture.

Maduro, who has been president since 2013, was declared the winner in last July’s election by Venezuela’s electoral authority and top court, despite allegations of undemocratic practices. International observers criticized the election, and no detailed results were ever published.

The opposition claimed that González had won by a significant margin, a stance supported by the U.S. and several other countries that recognized him as the newly elected president.

Additionally, the outgoing Biden administration imposed further sanctions on Venezuela, targeting key officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, with bounties of $25 million and $15 million, respectively. Sanctions were also placed on eight officials of the state-owned oil company PDVSA, citing corruption and narcotics charges.