Nicolás Maduro was born on November 23, 1962, in Caracas, Venezuela. He is a Venezuelan politician who has served as the President of Venezuela since 2013, emerging as one of the most polarizing political figures in contemporary Latin American politics. His rise to power is closely tied to the Bolivarian movement initiated by Hugo Chavez, whose ideological legacy Maduro has continued to defend and institutionalize.

Nicolás Maduro began his political career during the 1970s and 1980s while working as a bus driver. At a time when labor unions were prohibited, he represented Caracas metro workers and became actively involved in underground labor organizing. These early experiences within the working-class movement played a decisive role in shaping his political identity and alignment with socialist principles.

In 1992, Hugo Chavez, together with other dissident military officers, attempted to overthrow the sitting president Carlos Andrés Pérez. The coup attempt failed, and Chávez was sentenced to two years in prison before being released. After completing his sentence, Chávez founded the Fifth Republic Movement, a political party aimed at restructuring Venezuelan politics. Nicolás Maduro actively supported the formation of this movement and later worked as one of Chávez’s regional political coordinators during the 1998 presidential election campaign.

Following Chávez’s electoral victory, Nicolás Maduro gradually rose through the ranks of the Venezuelan political system. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from August 2006 until January 2013. On October 10, 2012, just three days after the presidential election, he was appointed Vice President of Venezuela by President Chávez.

After Hugo Chavez died of cancer on March 5, 2013, Nicolás Maduro assumed the role of interim president. He subsequently won the presidential election held on April 19, 2013, securing 50.6 percent of the vote and officially becoming President of Venezuela.

On July 8, 2013, Nicolás Maduro married Cilia Flores, a former National Assembly president and later Venezuela’s Attorney General. The couple had been together for approximately 20 years prior to their marriage. Flores has three children from previous relationships, while Maduro has one child from his first wife, Adriana Guerra Angulo.

In the presidential election held on May 20, 2018, Nicolás Maduro was re-elected in the first round with 67.8 percent of the vote. On August 4, 2018, an assassination attempt involving explosive-laden drones was reportedly carried out during a public speech. Maduro survived the incident without injury.

On January 23, 2019, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, rejected Maduro’s legitimacy and declared himself interim president. Nicolás Maduro dismissed the claim and announced the severance of all diplomatic relations with the United States.

In elections held on July 18, 2024, Nicolás Maduro won another presidential term, becoming Venezuela’s president for the third time. His continued leadership remains a subject of intense domestic and international debate, reflecting the deep political divisions within Venezuela and the broader global response to his governance.

Source: Biyografiler.com