When Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. special forces during a historic raid in his native homeland, he wasn’t alone. His wife, Cilia Flores, was also detained.
Having since been brought back to the U.S. to await trial on narco-terrorism charges, Venezuela’s prominent couple—who plead “not guilty” during their first U.S. court appearance on Monday—are set to face the “full wrath of American justice,” according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Much is known of Maduro, in particular his contentious relationship with President Donald Trump and his authoritarian leadership over Venezuela, which has now come to an end after almost 13 years. But outside the South American country, less is known about First Lady Flores, who is famously described by her husband as his “first combatant.”
With the world’s gaze now falling upon the detained couple, here’s what to know about Maduro’s influential wife.
Flores has decades of experience in Venezuelan politics
Flores’ first notable involvement in Venezuelan politics came in 1992, around the same time she met Maduro.
In February of that year, an attempted coup was staged by former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez (who at the time was a Lieut. Col.) and a number of other military rebel leaders.
Targeting Carlos Andros Perez, the coup was ultimately unsuccessful, with Chávez sent to prison facing a decades-long sentence. Flores, an attorney at the time, represented Chávez and other coup participants, ultimately helping to secure their release from prison two years later in 1994 and overseeing their pardon from then-President Rafael Caldera.
In 1998, Chávez stormed to victory in the presidential election and Flores quickly became a recognizable figure in Venezuelan politics. She went on to become a member of the National Assembly in 2000, and was appointed leader of the National Assembly six years later, replacing Maduro who became the country’s foreign minister.
Flores held…
