Venezuela's Political Factions Compete for Power

Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores, and those around them constitute a significant faction within the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Flores served as Chavez's legal counsel prior to his release from prison in 1994. Maduro served as head of the legislature and then was named foreign minister in 2006 before becoming president in 2013. Maduro played an unspecified role in helping Diosdado Cabello, the speaker of the National Assembly, and former Gen. Miguel Rodriguez Torres organize the country's colectivos. Venezuelan lawmaker Elvis Amoroso, the deputy head of the National Assembly, is likely a Maduro ally, one that gives the president some legislative influence. Maduro's vice president, Jorge Arreaza, directly administered the National Foreign Trade Center, a government body that administers the disbursement of foreign exchange funds, though Cabello's brother is also among its directors. More…