"I always remember a meeting when a young man was asked to speak; he spoke, and I was just mesmerized by him. I said, what an intelligent man!"
This romantic confession is from Cilia Flores, the First Lady of Venezuela. Reflecting on romance and courtship days, Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, describes his wife as 'full of spirit’. In Spanish, he uses the term "candela pura", which translates to 'pure fire'.
Maduro admitted in interviews that he started flirting with Cilia while visiting Venezuela's former leader Hugo Chavez in jail. The interaction eventually evolved into playful winks and gestures. Intriguingly, both were married at the time of their first encounters.
The love story between Maduro and Cilia Flores is neither a fairytale romance nor devoid of complexity. This power couple's journey is intertwined with politics, ideology, and controversies.
How Did They Meet?
The first failed coup attempt in Venezuela took place in 1992. The uprising, orchestrated by Hugo Chavez, ended with his arrest. Supporters waged persistent efforts to liberate Chavez through legal battles. They frequently visited him in prison.
Young Cilia was part of Chavez's legal team, handling all legal matters. Maduro, a union leader and bus driver, was deeply influenced by Chavez's Bolivarian ideology and worked tirelessly to free their leader.
In a 2023 podcast, Cilia recalled: "During the struggle for Chavez's release, we participated in street activities."
Their first spark occurred at a rally. Cilia reminisced,
"I always remember a rally in Catia (a district in Caracas), where a young man was asked to speak; he spoke, and I was just captivated—my thought was, 'He is so intelligent.'"
Source: aajtak
Cilia was deeply impressed by bus driver Maduro's speaking skills. Later, Maduro described her as a 'spirited' girl, using the term "candela pura" in Venezuelan Spanish.
In interviews, Maduro acknowledged that they became acquainted with each other, and during encounters with Chavez, he began flirting with her.
Courtship Over 23 Years of Marriage
The love story of these two revolutionaries took flight amid personal commitments. At the time, Cilia Flores was married to a detective with three sons, while Maduro had a son named Nicolás Maduro Guerra from his then-marriage.
Eventually, both decided to live beyond their marriages. By the mid-1990s, they parted ways with their partners, embarking on a love story requiring them to defy their families and ideologies for love.
Post-separation, Maduro and Cilia started a romantic life, living together for nearly two decades without formal marriage.
This love affair was a recurrent topic within Venezuela's leftist circles. Despite years of cohabitation, they did not marry, aligning with their leftist ideals that viewed traditional marriage as a bourgeois construct that might hinder ideological pursuits and revolutionary zeal.
Ultimately, Venezuela’s so-called revolution unfolded, and so did Maduro and Cilia’s complete love story.
The Presidency and the Wedding
The year 2013 marked a turning point in Venezuelan politics when power transitioned from Chavez to Maduro. Following Chavez's death, Nicolás Maduro was elected as the new leader of this communist-aligned country.
Source: aajtak
On July 15, 2013, Maduro and Cilia ceremonially united in a private civil ceremony. Maduro publicly announced the marriage, expressing respect for Flores’s struggles, calling her not only the "First Lady" but also the "Primera Combatiente" (first fighter).
This wording emphasized that Cilia Flores was not just a ceremonial figure but politically equal to him.
Over 30 Years of Togetherness
Following Maduro's electoral victory, Cilia Flores retreated from Venezuela's fast-paced political scene, becoming less vocal but remained politically influential. Her decisions have been pivotal in repeatedly recalibrating Maduro’s political career.
Critics speculate that she increasingly embraced the role of a 'queen mother' in Venezuela.
Political scientist Estefania Reyes told ITV News's US partner, CNN, that over recent years, Flores has emerged as a maternal figure trying to connect with the public.
Some believe Cilia carved her political career, while others see her as a vital behind-the-scenes force in Maduro’s presidency.
Western University's assistant professor Reyes explains, "Chavismo utilizes the mother role symbolically, she is both bound and liberated by gender constraints."
Cilia Flores and Maduro have shared over three decades together. However, January 3, 2026, might signal the end of this union, as they both are now imprisoned in America's notorious Brooklyn jail.
