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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Crime & Justice

Maduro's Life in Prison: Reading the Bible, Books, and Following Football, According to His Son

From El Nacional · (45m ago) Spanish Mixed tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nicolás Maduro's son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, provided details about his father's life in a US federal prison.
  • Maduro is reportedly reading the Bible daily, quoting verses, and has read dozens of books, including works by historical and literary figures.
  • His son described Maduro as remaining 'strong' and spiritually focused, despite facing serious charges.

The narrative surrounding Nicolás Maduro, the former Venezuelan president, has largely been shaped by political rhetoric and international sanctions. However, a recent interview with his son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, offers a rare glimpse into the personal life and current circumstances of the former leader, who is reportedly held in a US federal prison.

He thought he was going to die that day. We all thought he was going to die.

— Nicolás Maduro GuerraNicolás Maduro Guerra described his father's state of mind during the events leading to his capture.

According to the interview published by El País, Maduro Guerra recounted the intense uncertainty surrounding his father's capture on January 3rd, describing how he initially believed his father might not survive the day. This harrowing experience has evidently left a profound impact, with Maduro Guerra sharing his emotional reaction upon hearing his father's voice from prison for the first time.

Inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, Maduro is said to maintain a disciplined routine. His son highlights a significant shift in his father's habits, noting that Maduro now reads the Bible daily and has delved into numerous books, spanning historical, political, and literary genres. This intellectual engagement, including discussions and exchanges of books with fellow inmates, suggests a continued intellectual curiosity amidst his confinement.

I was speechless... I cried a little.

— Nicolás Maduro GuerraNicolás Maduro Guerra recounted his emotional reaction upon hearing his father's voice from prison for the first time.

From a Venezuelan perspective, this intimate portrayal of Maduro's life in prison offers a counter-narrative to the often-hostile international coverage. Maduro Guerra portrays his father not just as a political figure, but as a resilient individual grappling with his circumstances, finding solace in spiritual reflection and literature. While the legal and political ramifications of Maduro's situation remain complex, this personal account provides a human dimension, emphasizing his perceived strength and spiritual fortitude, and touching upon everyday concerns like family and even football, as evidenced by his reaction to FC Barcelona's Champions League elimination.

He has been reading the Bible every day... he has learned it.

— Nicolás Maduro GuerraNicolás Maduro Guerra spoke about his father's daily religious practice in prison.

Maduro Guerra also touches upon the future, suggesting that his father's potential return to Venezuela might hinge more on political agreements than judicial outcomes. He defends his father's financial standing, denying allegations of illicit foreign assets. This interview, therefore, serves not only to humanize Maduro but also to frame his current predicament within a broader political context, reflecting a perspective that seeks to shape public perception both domestically and internationally.

On January 3rd was a sum of errors, of aggression, of sanctions, of interests.

— Nicolás Maduro GuerraNicolás Maduro Guerra reflected on the events that led to his father's capture.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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