Maduro’s Son Addresses Venezuela’s Government Excesses
Nicolas Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, recently acknowledged the need for Venezuela’s government to seek forgiveness for its past “excesses” against its own citizens, according to an interview with the German news magazine der Spiegel.
Maduro Guerra, often referred to as “Lil Nicolas” or “The Prince,” is the sole child of Nicolas Maduro and serves in the National Assembly controlled by the regime. He is also named in a New York drug trafficking trial involving his father.
During an interview in a Caracas office tower, where security was visibly tight, he admitted that the socialist government made serious mistakes, creating “difficult moments” for the population. “Certainly there were difficult moments. We made mistakes and overreached. We must ask for forgiveness. The responsibility lies with us to take that first step,” he admitted.
He highlighted some of these “excesses,” especially concerning the police and judicial actions. He confessed that the judicial system does not always ensure fair trials or adequate defense rights, which he deemed to be “very serious,” according to der Spiegel.
Various international organizations and human rights activists have documented the oppressive actions and human rights violations carried out by Venezuela’s government for decades.
Under Maduro’s leadership, Venezuela has experienced a massive migration crisis, with approximately one-third of the nation’s 30 million residents having left in search of better lives. Contrary to other narratives, Maduro Guerra noted that many of these expatriates are “poisoned by the international media” and often present a negative view of the country.
He expressed regret for underestimating American capabilities regarding his father’s arrest, remarking that he should have done more to protect him.
Following Nicolas Maduro’s detention by U.S. authorities on January 3, the regime started releasing numerous political prisoners, though many remain incarcerated. Recently, President Trump stated his intention to secure the release of all such prisoners.
When asked about the political detainees, Maduro Guerra claimed, without providing evidence, that those still in prison were primarily individuals who allegedly attempted to assassinate his father, suggesting they did not fall under the amnesty law enacted by the regime this year.
Asked if he understands the plight of families with political prisoners now that his father is in America, he replied, “I think so.”
He emphasized that he wants to keep his father’s memory alive, insisting that his family is not involved in drugs or terrorism, framing their situation as purely political. “Venezuela is a petrostate, not a narcostate,” he stated.
Maduro Guerra also expressed concern regarding his father’s diet in prison, contrasting it with the severe hunger issues Venezuela faced under his rule. He remarked that, prior to his imprisonment, his father had a healthy diet, now reportedly shifted to more processed foods.
He stated that Maduro speaks with him nightly and that he is no longer in solitary confinement. Instead, he has been transferred to a communal cell.
Regarding Venezuela’s current state, Maduro Guerra described it as a nation beginning to “open up to the world,” though it remains under a socialist system. He said, however, that the country must now negotiate concessions to preserve its sovereignty.
When questioned about the reform delays prior to his father’s arrest, Maduro Guerra attributed it to “personal reasons.”
Before the arrest, he acted as a liaison with local religious groups supportive of the regime. He also noted that his father is currently reading the Bible extensively, quoting verses during their conversations.
In a detail that seemed personal, Maduro Guerra mentioned that books can now be sent to his father in prison, listing titles he’s ordered for him, including works by Shakespeare and other classics.
