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Caracas
When Nicolas Maduro Moras took over charge at Venezuela after the untimely death of revolutionary socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013, not many expected him to have such a long stint at the helm. On Sunday (July 28), Maduro, the 61-year-old former bus driver declared himself the victor the contentious presidential election of the South American nation. This will be his third consecutive term, which lasts for another six years.
The election results were immediately rejected by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Maria herself was banned by Madoro's regime from contesting, and instead the opposition fielded Edmundo Gonzalez. The opposition is claiming that Gonzalez won 70 per cent of the vote. But for now, Maduro appears to be firmly in the driver's seat yet again, all set for a third term as president.
Who is Nicolas Maduro?
Maduro was born into a working class Roman Catholic family in Caracas. His father was a prominent trade unionist.
A bus driver by profession, Maduro was part of Hugo Chavez's United Socialist Party. Having risen through its trade union, he was elected to the country's parliament, the National Assembly, for the first time in 2000.
Soon Maduro became the right hand man of Chavez, who was a fan of Che Guevera, and had led 'silent coups' to become president. The positions Maduro held over time include the president of National Assembly (2005-06) and foreign minister (2006-13) before becoming the vice president under Chavez (2012-13).
Eventually after Chavez died of cancer, Maduro took charge as president in 2013, winning the special presidential election.
Not a smooth ride for the former bus driver
But power was not a smooth ride for the leader of the oil-rich country. Venezuela has been for years the site of political experimentations by the US, which saw it as part of the sphere of influence and was averse to a communist leadership in the country. Like it did in the case of Cuba and Chile, and numerous other Latin American countries during much of the Cold War era, the US tried to oust Maduro in a number of ways, including by supporting and propping up alternative leaders.
Prominent among such leaders was the former speaker of the Venezuelan parliament Geaido. He was feted in the US and at one point gave a tough challenge to Maduro, but the socialist party machinery managed to weather that storm too.
Also read | Venezuela election: President Nicolas Maduro wins third term, opposition rejects result
Venezuela under Maduro: A nation under siege
What could have been one of the richest nations due to its oil wealth, Venezuela continued to languish in poverty under Maduro. But his ground support among the working classes remained strong, something that helped him maintain a firm grip on power. Venezuela faced immense inflation, with its currency highly devalued, and natural resources like petroleum nationalised by the Maduro regime. Essential goods shortages had led many Venezuelans to flee the country, particularly to neighbouring Colombia.
Under Maduro's regime, at least seven million people have fled the country and more than 20,000 people died in extrajudicial killings according to human rights observers.
Watch | Venezuela Presidential Elections 2024: Incumbent Nicolas Maduro wins third term
Facing down the Opposition, the Maduro way
Maduro has ruled with an iron fist, inspite of multiple protests challenging him. Those include the mainly middle class agitations in 2014. In 2015, the National Assembly was won by opposition parties, yet Maduro held on to power, with the so-called Supreme Tribunal, the National Electoral Council and the armed forces on his side.
He quelled a recall effort in 2016, led by the speaker of the opposition-led National Assembly Juan Guaidó. He had done this by making the Supreme Tribunal remove the powers of the assembly, which had led to further protests in 2017. To solve the constitutional crisis created by this situation, Maduro made efforts to rewrite the constitution.
At one point, there was even a strange situation of 'two presidents' in Venezuela. While Maduro was sworn in as president after the May 2018 presidential elections, the opposition-led National Assembly declared its leader Guaido as interim president. The tussle continued for four years, with Guaido explicitly backed by the US, which even invited him to the Congress.
(With inputs from agencies)