People in Venezuela looking for food in the garbage while the dictator enjoys at celebrities restaurant

[Guest Nicole]

 

[LNN]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro probably didn't get a standing ovation yesterday following his inauguration to a second term—one already marked by severe political, economic, and humanitarian issues (many of which arose on his watch).

Here's a small sampling of what he's dealing with:

• An annual inflation rate of 1,400,000%. Think that's bad? It's forecast to hit 10,000,000% by year-end.
• Venezuela owes international creditors about $150 billion.
• Venezuelans lost an average of 24 lbs in 2017 (with the government restricted from importing food or medicine) and suffer from a 90% poverty rate.

Asking yourself how Maduro won a second term? So are a lot of people. His May re-election has been labeled both "illegitimate" and a "sham"—and many have accused his party of vote-rigging and strong-arming. The U.S. and 13 other countries in the Americas have said they will not recognize Maduro's presidency.

Give us the bottom line, Axios: "While many nebulously blame 'socialism' for Venezuela's dire condition, the truth is that the country's problems are a result of corruption and wide-ranging economic incompetence from Maduro's government."