Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to immediately assume all presidential powers in an acting capacity on Saturday, establishing legal continuity for the government one day after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in a dramatic overnight raid.
The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice issued the order, directing Delcy Rodriguez to take charge of the presidency to guarantee “administrative continuity” and the “defense of the nation” following what the court described as Maduro’s forced absence.
Rodriguez, 56, stepped into the role Saturday afternoon, hours after the US military operation.
Shortly after assuming power, Rodriguez appeared on state television flanked by military commanders, demanding Maduro’s immediate release.
“There is only one president in this country and his name is Nicolás Maduro,” she declared during a National Defense Council session, calling on the Trump administration to provide “proof of life” for Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
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Rodriguez has been one of Maduro’s most trusted allies since 2018, when he appointed her vice president.
The daughter of leftist guerrilla Jorge Antonio Rodriguez, she holds deep revolutionary credentials. Her brother Jorge serves as the National Assembly president. Rodriguez has managed finance, oil, and communication portfolios, positioning her at Venezuela’s political and economic core.
Under Venezuela’s constitution, the executive vice president assumes presidential duties when the president becomes unavailable. Articles 233 and 234 outline this succession, making Rodriguez’s move legally prescribed.
President Donald Trump dismissed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s claims to power, telling reporters she lacks sufficient support. Machado, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, called for exiled diplomat Edmundo González to assume the presidency.
International reactions divide sharply
Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile condemned the US intervention. Russia and China denounced it as a sovereignty violation, while Argentina’s Javier Milei celebrated Maduro’s capture.
The constitution requires new elections within 30 days if Maduro’s absence becomes permanent.
Whether Rodriguez’s leadership proves temporary remains unclear as Venezuela navigates a political crisis.
