Venezuela swears in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president

Venezuela's constitutional order has moved forward in the wake of a dramatic military intervention, with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez formally assuming the role of interim president. Rodriguez took the oath before the National Assembly in Caracas on Monday, following a directive from the country's Supreme Court to immediately take charge after President Nicolas Maduro's capture by U.S. forces over the weekend.

An Oath to Chavez and a Denunciation of the US

During the swearing-in ceremony, Rodriguez framed the moment as one of defiance and continuity, invoking the name of Venezuela's iconic former leader. "I swear by Commander Hugo Chavez," she declared, lamenting what she termed the "kidnapping" of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. She described the detained leaders as "two heroes that we have as hostages in the United States of North America," setting a firm tone of resistance against the U.S. action.

Establishing Constitutional Continuity

The swift transition was executed under Venezuela's domestic legal framework. The Supreme Court's order for Rodriguez to assume the presidency was a pivotal step to ensure governmental continuity and forestall a potential power vacuum. Rodriguez, who also serves as the country's oil minister, is now tasked with leading the nation's government amid an unprecedented crisis and the declared intention of U.S. President Donald Trump to assert American control over the country.

The Immediate Context of the Transition

The political transition occurs just days after a U.S. military operation resulted in the capture of President Maduro and his wife. The couple was subsequently transported to New York, where they appeared in court to face drug and weapons charges, pleading not guilty. Rodriguez's ascension represents the Maduro government's effort to project stability and maintain its political project in the face of external military force and a pledge from Washington for a more direct American role in Venezuela's affairs.