Stepping from Chavez's shadow, Maduro builds power around family, walls off opposition
Alex Vasquez and Patricia Laya, Bloomberg
Feb. 2, 2021
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, center, and first lady Cilia Flores arrive at the National Assembly in Caracas on Jan. 12. 2021.Bloomberg photo by Carlos Becerra
Long derided as a bumbling seat-warmer, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is emerging as a ruthless strongman -- deflecting U.S. pressure; purging rivals; empowering his son, wife and trusted aides; and letting dollars flow to keep his battered economy from collapse.
The result is that the man thought to be the wan face of Chavismo -- the movement named for his magnetic predecessor, Hugo Chavez -- is now the robust head of what is increasingly called Madurismo.