Venezuela’s National Assembly on Monday formally swore in Delcy Rodriguez as the country’s interim president, just two days after United States forces captured her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, and transferred him to New York to face trial.
The move followed a dramatic US military operation that has reshaped Venezuela’s political landscape and drawn intense international attention.
Rodriguez, who has signalled a willingness to cooperate with Washington, took the oath of office during a special session of parliament, telling lawmakers she was assuming the role “in the name of all Venezuelans”.
Despite accepting the interim position, she expressed deep anguish over the fate of the former president and his wife, describing their arrest as “the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States,” in reference to Maduro and Cilia Flores, who are facing drug-related charges alongside other Venezuelan officials in New York.
Inside the National Assembly, lawmakers condemned the capture of the leftist leader and pledged full support for Rodriguez following the US military action that stunned Caracas and reverberated around the world. Outside the legislative building, thousands of demonstrators gathered, demanding Maduro’s release and chanting, “Maduro, hold on: Venezuela is rising!”
Among the protesters was 32-year-old Flur Alberto, who told AFP, “Regardless of whether Nicolás Maduro has something to answer for in court, this was not the way to do it,” reflecting widespread anger over the manner of the former president’s removal.
Within the chamber, however, legislators rallied firmly behind Rodriguez, who had served as Maduro’s vice president, and reelected her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, as speaker of parliament. As the session opened, lawmakers echoed the chant, “Let’s go Nico!”—a slogan closely associated with Maduro’s presidential campaign ahead of the controversial 2024 elections that were rejected by the opposition and criticised by dozens of governments, including the United States, as fraudulent.
Acting on President Donald Trump’s directive, US forces launched pre-dawn strikes on Caracas on Saturday, seizing Maduro and his wife before flying them to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
During Monday’s parliamentary debate, senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas sharply criticised Washington, saying, “The president of the United States, Mr Trump, claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world.”
“We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores,” he added, referring to Venezuela’s presidential palace.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court had earlier ordered Delcy Rodriguez to assume the presidency “in an acting capacity,” a decision that was swiftly backed by the military on Sunday. With Jorge Rodriguez retaining his role as parliament speaker, the siblings now wield influence over both the executive and legislative arms of government.
Addressing fellow lawmakers, Jorge Rodriguez vowed to exhaust “all procedures, all platforms, and all avenues to bring back Nicolas Maduro Moros, my brother, my president.” Support also came from Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, who assured the interim leader of his loyalty.
“Count on me, count on my family,” Maduro Guerra, popularly known as “Nicolasito,” told Rodriguez during the session, adding that the country was “in good hands” until his parents’ “return”.
Venezuela’s single-chamber parliament was elected last May in polls largely boycotted by the opposition, resulting in the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela and its allies controlling 256 of the 286 seats.
Speaking again on Monday, Maduro Guerra said the country “asks for neither privileges nor concessions; it demands respect… We want international relations with everyone, based on equality, mutual respect, and cooperation, without threats and without interference.”
He later stepped outside to address protesters, revealing he was in “indirect” contact with his father. “We have a strong team over there that’s supporting us,” he said.
While Rodriguez initially insisted that Maduro remained Venezuela’s “only” president, she has since extended an offer of cooperation to Washington, which has indicated it would work with the country’s leaders if its demands are met. Trump, however, warned that Rodriguez could face consequences “bigger than Maduro” if she fails to comply with US expectations on policy changes and oil access.
What you should know
Delcy Rodriguez’s swearing-in marks a critical turning point in Venezuela’s crisis following the unprecedented US military seizure of Nicolas Maduro.
While she enjoys the backing of parliament, the courts and the military, the country remains deeply divided, with mass protests demanding Maduro’s release and international reactions ranging from condemnation to cautious engagement. The interim government faces mounting pressure to balance internal loyalty to Maduro with external demands from Washington, particularly on political reforms and access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
How Rodriguez navigates this tension will shape Venezuela’s stability, sovereignty and international standing in the coming months.
