The New York Times reported that Maduro's wife, Flores, who was arrested along with him, has long operated behind the scenes and is regarded as one of the central figures of power in Venezuela.
The report says that not only is Flores the First Lady of Venezuela, but she is also one of the most powerful political figures in the country. For decades, she has largely operated from behind the scenes, yet wields extraordinary influence.
According to journalists, analysts, and former officials, she has shaped a judicial system in which almost all major decisions must go through her and has placed trusted associates in key positions within state institutions. They also point out that the Flores family has amassed vast wealth of unknown origin.
Flores comes from a lower middle-class background and was originally a lawyer. She began to rise to prominence after joining the late strongman President Chávez’s camp in the 1990s. During Chávez’s imprisonment following his failed 1992 coup, the two established a close relationship. Within Chávez’s political system after he came to power in 1998, she steadily climbed to become a key figure in Venezuela’s legislative body.
Since at least the late 1990s, Flores and Maduro have been political allies, both serving as members of parliament at the time. They married in 2013, the same year Maduro became president. After Chávez’s death, it was widely believed that she played a crucial role in helping Maduro consolidate his power, uniting loyal political support for him and maintaining profound influence within the regime.
Venezuelan investigative journalist Deníz, who has long investigated the Flores family, said that within the political movement led by Chávez, Flores was a figure both respected and feared.
Montealegre, a former senior prosecutor in both the Chávez and Maduro governments, stated that Flores "is the core of the core in Venezuela’s corruption and power structure. Many believe she is even more astute and cunning than Maduro."
Although Flores has not held an official government position since 2013, she still wields enormous behind-the-scenes power and is often described as the chief strategist behind Maduro’s political survival. Deníz said that the power Flores truly holds is greater than most people realize.
It is widely believed that Flores has decisive influence over the Venezuelan judicial system. Many judges and senior officials are said to be loyal to her, or were promoted through her connections, and the judiciary in Venezuela is considered thoroughly politicized, having never ruled against the state in over 20 years.
Deníz said: “This is a totally politicized, flawed, and corrupt judicial system, and Flores bears a great deal of responsibility for its degradation.”
Investigative journalists have also exposed large-scale corruption involving the Maduro-Flores family, including embezzlement and dealings with sanctioned foreign businessmen. One investigation reported that the family has practically taken over an entire luxury street in the capital, Caracas.