Loved by Supporters, Feared by Critics: Who Is Nicolás Maduro?

Nicolás Maduro, who ruled Venezuela for over 13 years as President, was captured during a U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, marking a dramatic end to his long tenure. The 63-year-old leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown to New York City, where they are expected to face federal custody and criminal charges related to narco-terrorism conspiracy. His removal followed months of intense pressure from the Trump administration, including accusations of running drug cartels and flooding the U.S. with narcotics. Maduro’s capture has sent shockwaves across Latin America and the world.

Born on November 23, 1962, into a working-class family in Caracas, Maduro grew up in the El Valle neighborhood and never completed high school. His early political life began as President of the student union at José Ávalos High School, where he was remembered as an imposing yet conciliatory figure. He worked as a bus driver during the 1990s and became a fervent supporter of Hugo Chávez after the latter’s failed 1992 coup attempt. Maduro campaigned for Chávez’s release from prison and secured a legislative seat in the 1998 elections that brought Chávez to power. His rise continued as he served as President of the National Assembly and later as Foreign Minister, strengthening Venezuela’s global ties through oil-funded aid programs.

Chávez named Maduro his successor before his death in 2013, and Maduro narrowly won the presidency in a disputed election that year. Critics mocked his humble bus-driver background and portrayed him as a weaker imitator of Chávez’s charismatic leadership. Under his rule, Venezuela’s economy collapsed into hyperinflation, chronic shortages, and mass migration, with millions fleeing the country. His government faced accusations of election rigging, violent suppression of protests in 2014 and 2017, and widespread human rights abuses. The United States imposed aggressive sanctions and indicted Maduro in 2020 on corruption and narco-trafficking charges, which he consistently denied.

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Maduro’s third term began in 2025 after elections widely condemned as fraudulent, triggering massive protests and a brutal crackdown that saw thousands jailed. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Opposition Leader María Corina Machado highlighted the repressive nature of his regime, as she faced threats of arrest and was barred from running in the previous election. Her forced exile and vocal criticism underscored the deep political divide in Venezuela. Maduro’s 13-year rule ended abruptly with his capture, leaving the country’s future uncertain and reviving debates over sovereignty, intervention, and the legacy of Chavismo in the region.

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