Nicolás Maduro: From Bus Driver to President of Venezuela

Section 3: Challenges and Controversies

Since taking office, Maduro has faced numerous challenges, including a severe economic crisis characterized by hyperinflation, food shortages, and widespread poverty. The Venezuelan economy, heavily reliant on oil exports, has been crippled by falling oil prices and U.S. sanctions. These economic hardships have led to mass protests and civil unrest, with citizens demanding political change and improved living conditions.

In 2014, protests erupted across the country, fueled by dissatisfaction with Maduro’s government. The government’s violent crackdown on dissent further escalated tensions, leading to a decline in Maduro’s popularity. Despite this, he narrowly won the presidential election in 2018, a result that was widely disputed both domestically and internationally.

January 4, 2026 | 6:27 pm