Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president, two days after United States forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the National Assembly in Caracas amid heightened international attention and indications of possible engagement with Washington, according to AFP.
Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, took the oath before lawmakers, saying she assumed office “in the name of all Venezuelans.” She expressed distress over the detention of Maduro and his wife, describing them as “hostages in the United States.”
The National Assembly condemned the US operation that led to Maduro’s capture and pledged full support for Rodríguez. Lawmakers also re-elected her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, as speaker of parliament, further consolidating the family’s influence over both the executive and legislative arms of government.
As the session opened, legislators chanted “Let’s go Nico!”, a slogan associated with Maduro’s 2024 re-election campaign, which was widely criticised by opposition groups and several foreign governments, including the United States, as fraudulent.
Senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas accused US President Donald Trump of overreach, saying Washington was attempting to act as “the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world.” He vowed solidarity to ensure Maduro’s return to the presidential palace.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court had authorised Rodríguez on Saturday to assume the presidency in an acting capacity, a move formally endorsed by the military on Sunday.
Jorge Rodríguez said the government would explore “all procedures, all platforms, and all avenues” to secure Maduro’s return, while Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, also pledged his support, insisting the country remained stable under Rodríguez’s leadership.
The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and its allies control 256 of the 286 seats in the National Assembly following elections in May that were largely boycotted by opposition parties.
While Rodríguez maintained that Maduro remains Venezuela’s “only” president, she signalled openness to cooperation with Washington, which has said it could work with Venezuelan authorities if its conditions on reforms and oil access are met. Trump, however, warned Rodríguez could face consequences if she failed to comply with US demands.
