The ousted president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, called for peace and national unity, assuring they are “firm” and “serene” in a message published this Saturday, two days after their court hearing in New York. This marks their first message since their capture in Caracas in January. “Today more than ever, we call for continuing to consolidate the country’s peace, national unity, reconciliation, forgiveness, and reunion among all. Let no one stray from the path of dialogue, coexistence, and respect,” said Maduro and Flores, according to messages posted on the deposed leader's Telegram and X accounts. In the text, they assured they are “well, firm, serene, and in constant prayer” and thanked for the support received through messages and letters during their imprisonment. They also thanked the Venezuelan people for “so much strength, so much courage, and so much solidarity,” recognizing the capacity to maintain unity within the country. This is the first post signed by Maduro and Flores published on social media since their capture on January 3 during the U.S. military attack in Caracas. Until now, the deposed president's son, Deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra, had disseminated his father's prayer messages and stated he was “very well” and “in high spirits.” Saturday's message was published two days after Maduro and Flores' appearance in a New York court, where on Thursday a federal judge rejected a motion to dismiss the narcotics case for which they are detained. Maduro faces four charges, including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. Flores, for her part, is accused of crimes related to drug trafficking conspiracy and weapon possession. The day of the court hearing coincided with the arrival in Washington of a delegation sent by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, to strengthen ties with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and resume diplomatic presence in the capital. The mission, headed by the Venezuelan chargé d'affaires, Félix Plasencia, and the vice minister for Europe and North America, Oliver Blanco, began its agenda in the U.S. with a meeting with the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, as reported on their social media.
