Who Is Nicolás Maduro? Profile of Venezuela’s Long-Serving President
Nicolás Maduro has served as Venezuela’s president since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chávez, with whom he shared a long-standing political alliance. Before rising through the ranks of the country’s left-wing movement, Maduro worked as a bus driver and trade union organiser.
Under Chávez, he served as foreign minister and later as vice president. As president, Maduro portrays himself as a defender of Venezuela’s socialist project and a vocal critic of external pressure, particularly from the United States.
Opposition figures and a number of Western governments have accused him of authoritarian rule, weakening democratic institutions and manipulating electoral processes — allegations he rejects. His 2024 election victory was not recognised by many countries.
Maduro remains a pivotal and highly contested figure in Venezuela’s political landscape, shaping both the country’s domestic direction and its international posture.
