Cilia Flores, wife of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, was First Lady of Venezuela from 2013 until their joint capture by the United States in early January 2026. Far from a purely ceremonial role, this lawyer and politician exerted a major influence on the country's institutions, holding key positions within the National Assembly and the Chavista apparatus.<\/p>\n
Cilia Flores rose to prominence in the 1990s by defending Hugo Ch\u00e1vez after his failed 1992 coup, contributing to his release in 1994. Elected to Congress in 2000, she became the first woman president of the National Assembly, serving from 2006 to 2011, succeeding her future husband, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. Appointed Attorney General from 2012 to 2013, she consolidated her grip on the judicial system, placing close associates and loyalists in strategic positions, according to testimonies from former prosecutors. <\/p>\n
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