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WORLD NEWS Thursday 3 december 2020

Son of Venezuela's Maduro emerges, runs for congress

By FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ ven Mnuchin at the time
Associated Press accused "Nicolasito" in a
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) statement of profiting off
— For most of his life, Ven- his father's corruption at
ezuelan President Nicolás the cost of millions of poor
Maduro's only son has lived Venezuelans.
quietly in the shadow of his Denying that charge, Min-
father, trying to dedicate ister of Higher Education
himself to music even as César Trompiz said he thinks
he took tentative steps into of Maduro Guerra as the
politics. disciplined and creative
But Nicolás Ernesto Maduro young man he has known
Guerra is now stepping fur- as a friend for years. There
ther into the political spot- is no substance to the at-
light. tacks from Washington,
He's campaigning for a Trompize said.
seat in Venezuela's con- "We often ask ourselves,
gress, the last institution 'Where are all the things
that had been out of the he has?' to see if we can
ruling socialist party's grasp, enjoy them, too," Trompiz
in a Sunday election that quipped. "In reality, they
the U.S. and dozens of oth- write a lot of garbage
er countries see as a move about him in the press."
by his father to tighten an Nicolas Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, speaks during an interview With an almost assured
illegitimate grip on power. with the Associated Press in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela, Nov. 20, 2020. congressional win come
The 30-year-old politico — Associated Press claims that Maduro Guerra
commonly called "Nico- is being groomed as the
lasito," or "Little Nicolás" — Caracas. He and his step- York, Mr. Trump," Maduro ing him in action," Maduro heir to his father, just as the
spoke with The Associated mother, first lady, Cicilia Guerra said. "We would Guerra said. elder Maduro was hand-
Press ahead of the vote Flores, were nominated as arrive and take the White The president's political tan- picked by the dying Presi-
about life with his father, as candidates for the United House." gles have brought accusa- dent Hugo Chávez to be
well as denying U.S. allega- Socialist Party of Venezu- Luis Vicente León, presi- tions of corruption against his successor. It also raises
tions of corruption. ela. dent of the Caracas-based the son. In 2019, Washing- claims of nepotism.
"We have thick skin, like a The election to fill 277 seats polling firm Datanalisis, said ton sanctioned him among "Sometimes people will say
crocodile," he said, pinch- is being boycotted by his Maduro Guerra does not others in the president's in- that," the son said. "I don't
ing one of his arms and dis- father's adversaries, who appear to be a popular ner circle. have any aspirations. My
missing critics. "They've said claim it is rigged because figure who might have a U.S. Treasury Secretary Ste- aspirations is to serve."q
everything they can think there are no guarantees bright future in politics, not-
of about me, but there's it will be fair. The United ing that his father has little
never proof." States and European Union political currency to share
Maduro Guerra, the presi- also reject the vote. with a popularity rating of
dent's son from his first mar- Until his father became about 15%.
riage, studied economics president in 2013, the Maduro Guerra said he is
in college, but his lifelong younger Maduro par- close with his father and
passion has been music ticipated in the govern- described his upbringing as
as an accomplished flute ing party's wing and also modest.
player. served as director of the "He was always there for
He is running for a congres- National System of Youth me," the son said. "I have
sional seat representing the and Children's Orchestras always been there for him."
coastal region of La Gu- and Choirs. His parents separated
aira, home to Venezuela's He said his interest in poli- when he was age 2, and
main international airport tics was sparked while he Maduro Guerra said he de-
just outside the capital of was a student at the gov- cided at a young age to
ernmental National Experi- live with his father. He said
mental Polytechnic Univer- his father encouraged him
sity of the Bolivarian Armed at a young age to pursue
Forces. baseball rather than music,
In 2017, he was elected but he recalled sneaking
to the National Constitu- from the field to study the
ent Assembly, a legislative flute.
body created by Maduro's The last two months of
government to circumvent campaigning have pulled
the opposition-controlled him away from music, he
congress, the National As- said, adding that he plays
sembly. now only when his two
In his first year in that body, young daughter beg him
the son became the target for a tune.
of ridicule after countering His interest in politics came
President Donald Trump's from his father, he said.
suggestion of military force "That happened because
to oust the elder Maduro. of the fact of always being
"The rifles would reach New with my father and watch-