Meet Delcy Rodríguez, the face of power after Maduro
Following the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces, Venezuela’s Supreme Court moved swiftly to appoint Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president in an effort to maintain administrative continuity and defend national sovereignty.
The Constitutional Chamber of the country’s highest court ruled that Rodríguez, who had been Maduro’s second-in-command, would assume the presidency to oversee government functions while the legal framework for an extended transition is determined.
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, 56, is a seasoned politician and lawyer who has been a central figure in Venezuelan politics for years, closely aligned with the socialist movement initiated by Hugo Chávez and continued under Maduro. She previously served in key roles including foreign minister, head of the Constituent Assembly and, since 2018, vice president during which time she also oversaw aspects of the country’s oil sector and economic policy.
Her sudden elevation to acting president places Rodríguez at the centre of a complex and contested political moment. While Venezuelan authorities brand the US operation that removed Maduro as an illegitimate “military aggression,” Rodríguez has denounced the action and demanded evidence of Maduro’s wellbeing, asserting his continued legitimacy even as she steps into a leadership role.
International reactions to her appointment have been mixed. Some foreign governments and analysts view Rodríguez as a pragmatic choice who may be able to engage with external powers, particularly the United States, on economic and governance issues. Others question her legitimacy given her long association with the previous regime and the extraordinary circumstances of her rise to power.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
