Monday, January 19, 2026- Despite the dramatic U.S. removal and extradition of President Nicolás Maduro on narcoterrorism charges, Diosdado Cabello remains one of the most powerful figures in Venezuela’s fractured political landscape.
As Interior Minister under interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Cabello continues to command the country’s internal security forces including police and armed pro‑government motorcycle gangs known as colectivos and routinely appears in public with armed personnel to assert his authority and denounce opponents. His presence underscores that, even with Maduro gone, the machinery of Chavismo’s hardline governance is still deeply entrenched.
Cabello’s grip on power isn’t merely symbolic. Human rights groups attribute continued political repression including delayed releases of detainees and arrests of dissenters to policies he oversees, and he uses platforms like his weekly television program Con el Mazo Dando to attack opposition leaders and rally loyalists.
Analysts argue this makes him a key enforcer of Venezuela’s authoritarian infrastructure, resisting efforts by both domestic critics and international actors to shift the country toward openness. His ability to mobilize security forces and influence internal policy means that Venezuela’s political transition remains highly unstable.
Complicating matters, Cabello is also a target of international pressure: the U.S. has indicted him on drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism charges and is offering a multi‑million‑dollar reward for information leading to his arrest, yet he remains at large and central in government operations.
This juxtaposition powerful at home but controversial abroad highlights the precarious balance in Venezuela’s post‑Maduro era. With key institutions still under hardline control and debates ongoing over the country’s future direction, Cabello’s role will be pivotal in determining whether meaningful change can take root or if the old guard retains dominance.
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