Maduro has been described as an autocrat and a "dictator". Multiple nations did not recognize the Constituent Assembly election or the validity of Maduro's 2018 reelection, and several proceeded to sanction Maduro. On, presidential elections were called prematurely opposition leaders had been jailed, exiled or forbidden to run, there was no international observation, and tactics to coerce voters were used. As a response to the protests, Maduro called for a rewrite of the constitution, and the Constituent Assembly of Venezuela was elected in 2017, under what many-including Venezuela's chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega and Smartmatic, the company that ran the voting machines -considered irregular voting conditions all of its members were pro-Maduro. On 1 April 2017, the Supreme Tribunal partially reversed its decision. The Supreme Tribunal removed power from the elected National Assembly, resulting in a constitutional crisis and protests in 2017. An opposition-led National Assembly was elected in 2015 and a movement toward recalling Maduro began in 2016, which was ultimately cancelled by Maduro's government Maduro maintained power through the Supreme Tribunal, the National Electoral Council and the military. According to The New York Times, Maduro's administration was held "responsible for grossly mismanaging the economy and plunging the country into a deep humanitarian crisis" and attempting to "crush the opposition by jailing or exiling critics, and using lethal force against antigovernment protesters". Shortages in Venezuela and decreased living standards led to protests beginning in 2014 that escalated into daily marches nationwide, repression of dissent and a decline in Maduro's popularity. He has ruled Venezuela by decree since 2015 through powers granted to him by the ruling party legislature. A special presidential election was held in 2013, which Maduro won with 50.62% of the vote as the United Socialist Party of Venezuela candidate.
After Chávez's death was announced on 5 March 2013, Maduro assumed the presidency. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2013 and as the vice president of Venezuela from 2012 to 2013 under Chávez. He was appointed to a number of positions under President Hugo Chávez and was described in 2012 by the Wall Street Journal as the "most capable administrator and politician of Chávez's inner circle".
Nicolás Maduro Moros ( / m ə ˈ d ʊər oʊ/, Spanish: ( listen) born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and president of Venezuela since 2013, with his presidency under dispute since 2019.īeginning his working life as a bus driver, Maduro rose to become a trade union leader before being elected to the National Assembly in 2000.