Presidency of Nicolás Maduro

On 14 April 2013, Nicolás Maduro was elected President of Venezuela, narrowly defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles with just a popular vote lead of 1.5%. Capriles immediately demanded a recount, refusing to recognize the outcome as valid. Maduro was later formally inaugurated as President on 19 April, after the election commission had promised a full audit of the election results. On 24 October 2013, he announced the creation of a new agency, the Vice Ministry of Supreme Happiness, to coordinate all the social programmes. On 3 January 2026, the United States captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife and the First Lady of Venezuela Cilia Flores in Caracas during the United States strike on Venezuela.