BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Venezuela’s government moved swiftly on Monday to project an image of continuity and independence, seeking to reassure citizens and the international community that the country remains under Venezuelan control following the dramatic U.S. military operation that led to the arrest of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro.
In Caracas, lawmakers aligned with the ruling party convened at the legislative palace to carry out a previously scheduled swearing-in ceremony for the National Assembly, signaling an effort to maintain institutional normalcy despite the political shockwaves unleashed over the weekend. The new legislative term will run through 2031, and the gathering was framed by officials as proof that the state continues to function on its own terms.
At the center of the proceedings was Delcy Rodríguez, who had served as Maduro’s vice president and was formally sworn in as interim president. She took the oath administered by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who was reelected as speaker of the National Assembly. Standing before lawmakers with her right hand raised, Rodríguez struck a somber tone, lamenting what she described as foreign aggression against Venezuela.
“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said, portraying Maduro’s arrest as a violation of national sovereignty rather than a change of leadership brought about by domestic forces.
Throughout the session, speeches by pro-government lawmakers focused heavily on condemning the U.S. operation that captured Maduro at his residence on a military base early Saturday. Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the former president’s son and a prominent figure within the ruling coalition, delivered one of the most forceful addresses. Appearing publicly for the first time since his father’s arrest, he warned that the implications extended far beyond Venezuela.
“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe,” Maduro Guerra said. “Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability.”
Known widely by his nickname “Nicolasito,” Maduro Guerra demanded the immediate return of his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, and called on foreign governments to support Venezuela’s demand. He also rejected allegations linking him to the criminal case brought by U.S. prosecutors, denouncing his inclusion as a co-conspirator in the indictment against his father and Flores.
As lawmakers gathered in Caracas, events were unfolding simultaneously in New York, where Maduro appeared in a U.S. federal courtroom for the first time. There, he pleaded not guilty to sweeping drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism charges and insisted on his innocence, calling himself a “decent man” and Venezuela’s rightful president. The parallel scenes underscored the extraordinary split reality facing the country: a leadership transition at home and a high-stakes criminal prosecution abroad.
The United States captured Maduro and Flores during a pre-dawn military operation, transporting them out of Venezuela and ultimately to New York. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela following Maduro’s removal, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to clarify that Washington does not intend to manage the country’s day-to-day governance. Rubio said the U.S. role would be limited to enforcing an existing oil quarantine and applying economic pressure to encourage policy changes.
Rubio emphasized that oil remains central to Washington’s strategy, describing pressure on Venezuela’s energy sector as leverage to force reforms. He said the United States expects changes not only in how the oil industry is managed, but also in efforts to halt drug trafficking that prosecutors allege flourished under Maduro’s rule.
Rodríguez, for her part, has shifted her tone since the initial hours after Maduro’s arrest. On Sunday, she signaled a willingness to engage with Washington, calling for “respectful relations” and proposing cooperation focused on shared development within the bounds of international law. Her conciliatory remarks followed warnings from Trump that she could face severe consequences if she failed to comply with U.S. demands.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court formally appointed Rodríguez as interim president on Saturday. Under the country’s constitution, a presidential election must be held within 30 days if a sitting president is deemed permanently unable to serve. However, the court declared Maduro’s absence to be temporary rather than permanent, a legal distinction that allows the vice president to assume power for up to 90 days, with the possibility of an extension to six months if approved by the National Assembly.
The court did not specify a clear timeline for Rodríguez’s tenure, fueling speculation that she could seek to remain in office beyond the usual limits. Her position is further bolstered by the backing of Venezuela’s military, which has historically played a decisive role in determining the outcome of political power struggles.
Before Rodríguez took the oath, lawmaker Grecia Colmenares echoed the prevailing sentiment among pro-government legislators, vowing to work for Maduro’s return. She pledged to take “every giant step” necessary to bring back Maduro and Flores, whom supporters continue to describe as symbols of resistance. “I swear by the shared destiny we deserve,” she said.
Meanwhile, signs emerged that Washington is preparing for a new phase in its relationship with Caracas. A U.S. State Department official said preliminary planning has begun to reopen the American embassy in Venezuela, which has been shuttered for years. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said preparations are underway in case Trump decides to send U.S. diplomats back to Caracas.
As Venezuela navigates the uncertainty following Maduro’s sudden removal, the government’s actions on Monday reflected a determined effort to assert sovereignty, maintain internal order and shape the narrative of a country insisting it remains in charge of its own future despite unprecedented foreign intervention.
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