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Maduro’s Cult of Personality and Repression Defined Venezuela’s Lost Decade
Tico Times ^ | January 4, 2026

Posted on 01/04/2026 3:56:51 PM PST by nickcarraway

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, who has been seized by US special forces after more than a decade in power, ruled with an iron fist while seeking to portray himself as a humble man of the people.

During months in the crosshairs of US President Donald Trump, who accused him of being a drug trafficker, the 63-year-old former bus driver deflected pressure by dancing to techno music at near-daily rallies, always broadcast live, as he chanted the mantra “No war, yes peace!” — in English.

But for many Venezuelans, Maduro was no kindly pacifist. Seven million compatriots emigrated on his watch amid allegations of arbitrary detentions, rigged trials, torture and censorship. The South American country’s economy collapsed, marked by four consecutive years of hyper-inflation and an 80-percent drop in GDP in a decade.

(Excerpt) Read more at ticotimes.net ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arbitraryarrests; censorship; hyperinflation; maduro; torture; venezuela

1 posted on 01/04/2026 3:56:51 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

MAYBE TRUMP CAN ARRANGE FREE FLIGHTS FOR PEOPLE TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY


2 posted on 01/04/2026 4:06:28 PM PST by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: nickcarraway

The people of New York City will not convict him.
The people in New York City would not have convicted. Osama bin Laden. Had he been brought back alive and tried.


3 posted on 01/04/2026 4:13:31 PM PST by NoLibZone (Trump needs to require all democrats in office to re take their oath to the US Constitution.)
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To: nickcarraway

Maduro was not the total causal problem.

Venezuela apparently remains a narco/commie state.


4 posted on 01/04/2026 4:16:28 PM PST by Paladin2 (YMMV)
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To: Paladin2

It was Chavez. Maduro was just a placeholder that was able to hang on a long time. They couldn’t even get rid of him when the average Venezuelan was losing 30 pounds a year.


5 posted on 01/04/2026 4:18:01 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: NoLibZone

I don’t think so.


6 posted on 01/04/2026 4:19:55 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Democrats FUME As CNN Anchor BRINGS RECEIPTS EXPOSING THEIR HYPOCRISY Raging Against Maduro Arrest!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUK1Ro2i5tw

7 posted on 01/04/2026 4:20:07 PM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: SmokingJoe

We got the same thing here. Think about it. Think the Kenyan. Then there’s BJ.

Will the people learn? They should be made to pay the higher premiums for health care. When November comes we’ll see if they learned anything.


8 posted on 01/04/2026 4:31:36 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: NoLibZone

Question—

Why NYC?

Why not Miami with all of its Cubans and Venezuelans?


9 posted on 01/04/2026 4:46:30 PM PST by Bruce Buckley
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To: Paladin2

The institutions of repression and control remain intact.

It won’t be as easy as simply moving in and setting up shop.


10 posted on 01/04/2026 4:48:21 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: nickcarraway
the former real estate developer deflected pressure by dancing to techno music at near-daily rallies, always broadcast live, as he chanted the mantra “No war, yes peace!” — in English.


11 posted on 01/04/2026 4:52:40 PM PST by Karl Spooner
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To: nickcarraway

Baby Trump Takes a Visit To Venezuela Ft. Baby Maduro

RT 8 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0LoDQFkNss

“Booger Sugar” 🤣


12 posted on 01/04/2026 5:01:31 PM PST by cuz1961
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To: Bruce Buckley

Exactly!


13 posted on 01/04/2026 5:09:52 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: nickcarraway

I was going to celebrate the liberation with a plate of maduros this evening, but the pregnant daughter had a craving and SIL bought everyone pepperoni pizza 🍕 instead.


14 posted on 01/04/2026 6:13:55 PM PST by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

15 posted on 01/04/2026 8:16:40 PM PST by SunkenCiv (NeverTrumpin' -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: Karl Spooner

Maduro wasn’t too stupid, he was seeing the showmanship work here.

Bread and circuses only works well as long as you have bread.


16 posted on 01/04/2026 8:48:14 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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