Who Is Cilia Flores? From Chávez Ally To Venezuela’s First Lady, Maduro's Wife Now In US Custody

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 18:19 IST

Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has drawn global attention after she was captured during a US operation.

Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro with wife Cilia Flores (Photo: X)

The United States carried out a large military strike in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and flew President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, out of the country, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country."

The announcement placed fresh attention on Cilia Flores, a powerful and influential figure within Venezuela’s ruling circle.

What do we know about Cilia Flores?

Cilia Flores was born on October 15, 1956, in Tinaquillo, a small city in northwestern Venezuela. She was the youngest of six children. Her early life was marked by poverty. She reportedly grew up in a mud-brick house with a dirt floor. Her father worked as a travelling salesman, selling goods in nearby towns.

Later, her family moved to Caracas in search of better opportunities. Flores went on to study criminal law at a private university in the capital.

As a student, Flores was not deeply involved in politics. She worked part-time at a police station, where she transcribed witness statements. She married a police detective, her longtime boyfriend, and the couple had three sons.

After completing her law degree, Flores worked for nearly ten years as a defence lawyer at a private firm. During this period, her focus remained on legal work rather than political activism.

Political path

Flores’ political path changed in 1989 during the Caracazo riots. The unrest followed a rise in fuel prices and led to widespread violence in Caracas. Flores later said the events gave her a “revolutionary calling", according to Reuters.

The same period influenced Hugo Chávez, then an army officer, who later led a failed coup attempt in 1992. Flores became a supporter of Chávez, even spray-painting his name around the city. She later wrote to him, offering legal help, which he accepted.

Flores began advising Chávez and replying to letters from his supporters while he was in prison.

Meeting Nicolás Maduro

During this time, Flores met Nicolás Maduro, a union leader who was also advising Chávez. Maduro later described Flores as having a “fiery character". Both were in the process of separating from their spouses and eventually formed a relationship.

After Chávez received a presidential pardon in 1994, Flores advised him to move away from a military image and focus on helping the poor. By 1997, she was part of the team that helped Chávez win the presidency the following year.

Flores was elected to the Assembly in 2000. Inside parliament, she gained a reputation as a hard-line figure. When she became head of the Assembly in 2007, she openly criticised opposition lawmakers, calling them “sinners".

In 2012, Chávez appointed Flores as attorney general, a role she held until his death in March 2013.

Flores as Venezuela’s First Lady

After Chávez’s death, Maduro won the presidential election. Flores and Maduro married in July 2013. As first lady, she initially focused on changes within the presidential palace but soon took on a far more influential role in government.

Often described as one of the most powerful figures in Venezuela’s leadership, Flores has referred to herself as the “First Revolutionary Combatant". Some critics have labelled her “Lady Macbeth", reflecting her strong and controversial presence in Venezuelan politics.

Her reported capture alongside Maduro now places her at the centre of one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s recent history.

News world Who Is Cilia Flores? From Chávez Ally To Venezuela’s First Lady, Maduro's Wife Now In US Custody

Read More