Who Could Take Over Venezuela After Maduro's Capture: Key Contenders In Race

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 22:26 IST

One prominent opposition figure is María Corina Machado, the leader of the Vente Venezuela party and a key voice against Maduro.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (Image: AFP)

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and removed from the country, triggering uncertainty over who could take charge of Venezuela’s leadership.

Announcing the development on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States had carried out a major military operation in Venezuela.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.

This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement," he wrote.

The announcement has raised questions about a possible power vacuum in Caracas and who might emerge as Maduro’s successor.

Opposition Figures In focus

One name frequently mentioned is Edmundo González. The United States has recognised González as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election, according to Newsweek. Maduro’s ruling party, however, declared victory in the vote, a result later upheld by Venezuela’s top court.

Following the court ruling, an arrest warrant was issued against González. He later fled to Spain, citing safety concerns as political pressure mounted against opposition leaders.

Another prominent opposition figure is María Corina Machado, the leader of the Vente Venezuela party and a key voice against Maduro. Machado won the opposition primary by a large margin but was barred from contesting the presidency by Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, Newsweek reported.

She later left Venezuela after spending months in hiding and gained international attention for her campaign against the Maduro government. In 2025, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and appeared publicly in Oslo following her escape from the country.

US Legal Action

Meanwhile, US officials said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face prosecution in the United States. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the pair had been indicted and would be brought before American courts.

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire US DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers," Bondi said in a statement, as quoted by The Hill.

As Venezuela absorbs the shock of these developments, it remains unclear how the country’s political future will unfold or who will ultimately step into the leadership vacuum left by Maduro’s reported removal.

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