Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s long-time leader, has won a third term as President in a historic . Known for his distinctive appearance and lively campaign style, Maduro has maintained a high level of confidence throughout his bid for re-election.
“Come rain, shine, or lightning … we’re going to win by a landslide,” he declared in a recent state television broadcast, shortly after announcing mock election results that suggested a decisive victory.
Despite his assertiveness, Maduro, 61, faces significant challenges.Under his rule, the once relatively affluent South American nation has endured a prolonged economic collapse, leading to an exodus of approximately 7.7 million migrants. According to a UN special rapporteur, nearly 82% of Venezuelans live in poverty, with 53% in extreme poverty.
Early life and rise to power
Nicolás Maduro Moros was born on November 23, 1962. He began his working life as a bus driver before rising to become a trade union leader. In 2000, he was elected to the National Assembly. Under President Hugo Chávez, Maduro held several key positions, serving as President of the National Assembly from 2005 to 2006, as minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2013, and as Vice President from 2012 to 2013.
Following Chávez’s death on March 5, 2013, Maduro assumed the presidency.
In the special presidential election held in 2013, Maduro was declared the winner with 50.62% of the vote as the United Socialist Party of Venezuela candidate. He has ruled Venezuela by decree since 2015 through powers granted to him by the ruling party legislature.
Challenges and controversies
Under Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian leadership, Venezuela reportedly has become deeply and sometimes violently politically divided. There have been multiple attempts to remove Maduro from office, both through the ballot and extralegally. The country’s economy collapsed, resulting in soaring inflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine.
Despite the turmoil, Maduro remained in office, even when his election to a second term in 2018 was challenged by Juan Guaidó, the head of the National Assembly, who declared himself the country’s acting president in January 2019.
“Come rain, shine, or lightning … we’re going to win by a landslide,” he declared in a recent state television broadcast, shortly after announcing mock election results that suggested a decisive victory.
Despite his assertiveness, Maduro, 61, faces significant challenges.Under his rule, the once relatively affluent South American nation has endured a prolonged economic collapse, leading to an exodus of approximately 7.7 million migrants. According to a UN special rapporteur, nearly 82% of Venezuelans live in poverty, with 53% in extreme poverty.
Early life and rise to power
Nicolás Maduro Moros was born on November 23, 1962. He began his working life as a bus driver before rising to become a trade union leader. In 2000, he was elected to the National Assembly. Under President Hugo Chávez, Maduro held several key positions, serving as President of the National Assembly from 2005 to 2006, as minister of foreign affairs from 2006 to 2013, and as Vice President from 2012 to 2013.
Following Chávez’s death on March 5, 2013, Maduro assumed the presidency.
In the special presidential election held in 2013, Maduro was declared the winner with 50.62% of the vote as the United Socialist Party of Venezuela candidate. He has ruled Venezuela by decree since 2015 through powers granted to him by the ruling party legislature.
Challenges and controversies
Under Maduro’s increasingly authoritarian leadership, Venezuela reportedly has become deeply and sometimes violently politically divided. There have been multiple attempts to remove Maduro from office, both through the ballot and extralegally. The country’s economy collapsed, resulting in soaring inflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine.
Despite the turmoil, Maduro remained in office, even when his election to a second term in 2018 was challenged by Juan Guaidó, the head of the National Assembly, who declared himself the country’s acting president in January 2019.