Maduro's Son Admits Regime Excesses, Calls for Chavismo Apology

Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the detained former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, has publicly acknowledged that the Chavismo movement must apologize for the excesses and mistakes committed during his father's regime. In an interview with the German weekly Der Spiegel, Maduro Guerra cited specific failures, including abusive police actions and a lack of fair judicial processes that violated the right to defense. He emphasized that the responsibility to take the first step toward reconciliation lies with his political faction. Currently, Nicolás Maduro is imprisoned in New York, facing charges of narcoterrorism and drug trafficking following his arrest in Caracas in January 2026. Maduro Guerra revealed that he speaks with his father daily via phone, expressing deep concern over his deteriorating health due to a prison diet high in processed carbohydrates and salt, contrasting with his previously healthy lifestyle. Despite these conditions, he noted that his father attempts to project strength and encourages looking forward. This admission marks a significant shift in rhetoric from the inner circle of the deposed leadership amidst ongoing legal proceedings in the United States.