Desk Correspondent , Venezuela - Nicolás Maduro, the man recently captured in a daring U.S. military operation, rose from humble beginnings as a bus driver in Caracas to become the successor of Hugo Chávez and the ruler of Venezuela for over thirteen years. A lifelong leftist and trade union leader, Maduro’s political career took off when he joined Chávez’s movement, eventually serving as Foreign Minister and Vice President. Upon Chávez’s death in 2013, Maduro took the helm of the "Bolivarian Revolution," promising to continue the socialist legacy of his mentor. However, his tenure was defined by a historic economic collapse, hyperinflation, and accusations of authoritarianism that divided the nation.

During his reign, Maduro faced intense international pressure and domestic protests as Venezuela's once-prosperous oil-based economy crumbled. While he maintained the loyalty of the military and a core base of supporters, his government was increasingly isolated by Western nations. The United States, particularly under President Donald Trump, led a campaign of heavy sanctions and eventually issued an indictment against him for "narco terrorism." Despite multiple attempts by the opposition to remove him from power and surviving an apparent drone assassination attempt in 2018, Maduro remained defiant in the presidential palace until the recent intervention that led to his extradition to Florida.

The capture of Maduro marks a dramatic end to a political era that reshaped South America. To his followers, he was a defender of the poor against "imperialist" forces, but to his critics and the millions who fled the country, he was a dictator responsible for a humanitarian catastrophe. As he now faces trial in a U.S. courtroom, his legacy remains deeply polarizing. This unprecedented shift in power leaves Venezuela at a critical crossroads, as the international community watches to see if his removal will lead to democratic restoration or further instability in the region.