Venezuela’s parliament on Monday formally swore in Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, two days after US forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to New York to face trial on drug trafficking charges.
Gatekeepers News reports that Rodríguez, who had served as Maduro’s vice president, took the oath of office before the National Assembly, describing the US action as an abduction and pledging loyalty to the detained leader.
“I take this oath in the name of all Venezuelans. I am in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States,” she said, referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The parliamentary session also saw the re-election of Jorge Rodríguez, Delcy Rodríguez’s brother, as speaker of the National Assembly, further consolidating executive and legislative power within the Rodríguez family.
“All procedures, all platforms, and all avenues will be pursued to bring back Nicolás Maduro Moros, my brother, my president,” Jorge Rodríguez told lawmakers.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, also addressed the assembly, pledging the family’s continued support and assuring citizens of political continuity.
“Count on me, count on my family. Venezuela is in good hands until my parents return,” he said.
Inside the chamber, lawmakers chanted “Let’s go Nico!”, a slogan from Maduro’s disputed 2024 re-election campaign, which was widely criticised by international observers as fraudulent.
Outside the legislature, opposition voices and protests persisted. Thousands of Maduro supporters marched through Caracas, denouncing the US operation. One demonstrator, Flur Alberto, 32, told AFP: “Regardless of whether Nicolás Maduro has something to answer for in court, this was not the way to do it.”
The US military operation that captured Maduro was ordered by former President Donald Trump and involved airstrikes and naval support early on Saturday. Venezuelan lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas condemned the action, accusing Washington of acting beyond its authority.
“The president of the United States, Mr Trump, claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world,” Soto Rojas said. “We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolás Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores.”
Following Rodríguez’s swearing-in, tensions remained high in the capital. Witnesses reported shots fired near the Miraflores presidential palace, while drones were seen hovering over the area. Security forces later said the situation was under control.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court had authorised Rodríguez to assume the presidency “in an acting capacity” on Saturday, and the military publicly pledged its support the following day.
Addressing foreign relations, Maduro Guerra said Venezuela sought respectful international engagement.
“Venezuela asks for neither privileges nor concessions; it demands respect,” he said. “We want international relations with everyone, based on equality, mutual respect, and cooperation, without threats and without interference.”
Rodríguez has signalled a willingness to engage with Washington, which has said it will work with Venezuelan authorities if they comply with US demands on policy reforms and oil sector access. Trump, however, warned that Rodríguez could face consequences should she fail to meet those conditions.
The political transition comes amid heightened uncertainty in Venezuela, where the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and its allies control 256 of the 286 seats in the National Assembly following elections last May that were largely boycotted by the opposition.
