After Maduro’s Removal, Venezuela’s Chavista Inner Circle Faces Power Struggle

The removal of Nicolás Maduro has plunged Venezuela’s long-ruling “Chavista” movement into its most serious internal test in nearly three decades, raising urgent questions about whether the tightly controlled power structure can survive without the man who held it together.

Maduro, who governed the oil-rich nation for 27 years of Chavista rule following the legacy of Hugo Chávez, was captured by U.S. forces and transferred to New York to face trial alongside his wife, Cilia Flores. Their removal has disrupted what diplomats in Caracas describe as a “club of five”—a small circle of leftist power brokers who collectively ran the country.

At the center of that group were Maduro and Flores, alongside three other dominant figures: former vice president Delcy Rodríguez, her brother Jorge Rodríguez, and hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

“They all had a voice, but Maduro was the one who kept the balance,” a diplomatic source in Caracas said. “Now that he’s gone, everything is uncertain.”

Maduro’s Cult of Power

Personally chosen by Chávez before his death in 2013, Maduro was often underestimated by critics but proved adept at neutralizing rivals and maintaining control. He cultivated a carefully crafted image—broadcasting near-daily rallies, dancing to techno music, and chanting slogans like “No war, yes peace!” even as U.S. pressure mounted.

State propaganda elevated him to near-mythical status through murals, songs, films and the animated cartoon Super Moustache, portraying Maduro as a superhero fighting imperialism alongside “Super Cilita,” a character inspired by Flores. The loyalty of the armed forces, led by Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, was central to his survival.

That image shattered with photographs of a handcuffed and blindfolded Maduro being flown to the United States—images that quickly circulated worldwide.

Who Holds Power Now?

Following Maduro’s capture, Delcy Rodríguez was installed as interim leader, signaling continuity but also exposing underlying tensions. On Sunday, she struck a notably pragmatic tone, calling for a “balanced and respectful relationship” with Washington—an abrupt shift from years of confrontation.

Rodríguez and her brother Jorge have long been seen as the regime’s strategic operators. As vice president, Delcy oversaw the economy and oil sector, while Jorge managed high-stakes negotiations with the opposition and foreign governments. Analysts credit the siblings with orchestrating internal purges, including the downfall of former oil minister Tareck El Aissami, who was jailed in 2023.

Cabello: The Wild Card

Standing apart is Diosdado Cabello, widely feared and regarded as the most radical figure within Chavismo. Under his watch as interior minister, thousands were detained following protests over Maduro’s disputed 2024 re-election, effectively silencing the opposition.

Cabello, a longtime Chávez ally and former coup participant, briefly served as president during the failed 2002 ouster of Chávez and remains the second-most powerful figure in the ruling Socialist Party. U.S. courts have now named him among those wanted for trial, offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

After maintaining a low profile immediately following Maduro’s arrest, Cabello reappeared alongside Delcy Rodríguez at her first cabinet meeting as acting president—an image meant to project unity but underscoring the fragile balance within the ruling elite.

Analysis

With Maduro gone, Venezuela’s ruling system is entering a volatile phase. The question is whether the Rodríguez siblings’ pragmatism can coexist with Cabello’s hardline instincts—or whether internal rivalries will fracture the Chavista project.

For now, survival appears to be the priority. But without the central figure who arbitrated disputes and commanded loyalty, Venezuela’s post-Maduro era may expose deep cracks in a movement that has dominated the country for nearly three decades.