Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the 35-year-old son of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, recently broke his silence in an interview. He admitted to carrying a significant emotional burden. Mr. Guerra also voiced deep worry regarding his father’s current imprisonment and expressed regret, stating, “We should have done more to protect my father.”
His father, Nicolás Maduro, and mother, Cilia Flores, were abducted early on January 3. Approximately 150 helicopters and aircraft bombarded Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Elite units subsequently stormed the Fuerte Tiuna military complex, overpowering the couple. They were then flown directly to New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where they remain in pre-trial detention. US authorities have charged them with serious offenses, including drug trafficking and terrorism.
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, often known as “Nicolasito,” is also included in the indictment. He was long considered the heir apparent to his father. In recent years, the elder Maduro clung to power through alleged rigged elections and a harsh crackdown on opposition figures. Mr. Guerra was preparing for a future role in the National Assembly, even as millions fled poverty in the oil-rich nation.
Mr. Guerra chose to speak with a Western news outlet to defend his father. The interview took place in Caracas, on the eighth floor of an office tower. Grim-faced security personnel guarded the hallways. Through the window, the La Carlota military airport was visible, a site reportedly struck by American bombs on January 3.
During the conversation, Mr. Guerra, who shares his father’s sturdy build, conveyed his struggle. He is attempting to remain composed and uphold his responsibilities. However, imagining his father in prison weighs heavily on his mind. He maintains his commitment to Chavismo and the Venezuelan revolution, despite these personal challenges.
