Venezuela’s National Assembly swore in Delcy Rodríguez as interim president two days after U.S. forces detained Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to New York to face criminal charges.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday formally swore in Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, two days after U.S. military forces seized her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, and transported him to the United States to stand trial in New York.
Rodríguez took the oath during a session of the National Assembly of Venezuela, telling lawmakers she was assuming the role “in the name of all Venezuelans.” She described herself as being “in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes,” referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who face U.S. drug and weapons charges alongside other Venezuelan officials.
Lawmakers denounced the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s capture, while pledging support for Rodríguez as his stand-in following what they described as a military attack that stunned Caracas and drew international attention.
Outside the legislature, thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand Maduro’s release, chanting slogans in his support. One protester told reporters that, regardless of any allegations Maduro may face, his seizure was not carried out in a legitimate manner.
Inside the chamber, National Assembly members offered full backing to Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, and reelected her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, as speaker of parliament. As the session opened, lawmakers chanted slogans associated with Maduro’s 2024 presidential campaign, an election widely denounced by opposition groups and numerous foreign governments as fraudulent.
The swearing-in followed a decision by Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday ordering Rodríguez to assume the presidency in an acting capacity. The military also publicly declared its support for her leadership.
During the debate, senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas accused the United States and President Donald Trump of acting as “the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world,” vowing that Maduro would ultimately return to the presidential palace.
With Jorge Rodríguez’s reelection as speaker, the Rodríguez siblings now hold effective control over both the executive and legislative branches. Jorge Rodríguez told lawmakers he would pursue every possible avenue to secure Maduro’s return to power.
Maduro’s son, National Assembly member Nicolás Maduro Guerra, also voiced support for the interim president, telling Rodríguez that the country was “in good hands” until his parents’ return. He later addressed demonstrators outside the legislature, saying he was in indirect contact with his father and that allies abroad were supporting the government.
Venezuela’s current National Assembly was elected last May in a vote largely boycotted by the opposition, leaving the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela and its allies with an overwhelming majority of seats.
While Rodríguez on Saturday insisted Maduro remains the country’s only legitimate president, she later signaled a willingness to cooperate with Washington. President Trump, however, warned that Rodríguez could face consequences more severe than Maduro’s if she failed to comply with U.S. demands related to policy changes and access to Venezuela’s oil sector.
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