Cilia Flores
| Cilia Flores link (Lawyer, politician) | |
|---|---|
| File:Cilia Flores 2025 (cropped).jpg Court appearance in New York | |
| Born | 15 October 1956 |
| Alma mater | Universidad Santa María |
First Lady kidnapped by US special forces | |
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Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician who is married to the President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, making her the First Lady of Venezuela.
On 3 January 2026, President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were kidnapped in Caracas by US special forces, flown to New York, appeared in court[1] and were charged with "narco terrorism".[2] They are expected to stand trial under Judge Hellerstein in July 2026.[3]
Background
Cilia Flores was born in Tinaquillo, Venezuela and raised in Caracas. She has a law degree from the Universidad Santa María in Caracas, specialising in criminal and labour law.
Cilia Flores was the lead attorney for Hugo Chávez's defence team and she helped secure Chávez's release from prison in 1994 after his unsuccessful coup in 1992.
Political career
In 2000, Flores was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly.
As a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Flores replaced her future husband Maduro as Speaker of the Assembly in August 2006 when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She was the first woman to serve as the President of the National Assembly (2006–2011). On 10 January 2007, Flores swore Chávez into office following the 2006 presidential election.
From 2012 until the election of Maduro, she was Attorney General of Venezuela.
Since 2015, she has also been a deputy in the National Assembly of Venezuela for her home state of Cojedes.[4]