Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed the duties of president following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a United States military operation. Under Articles 233 and 234 of Venezuela’s constitution, the vice president takes over when the president is temporarily or permanently absent. Rodríguez, who also served as finance and oil minister, confirmed her assumption of office on Saturday afternoon and chaired a National Defense Council meeting hours after Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were detained. She demanded their immediate release and condemned the US action as a severe violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and international law.

Rodríguez, 56, is a longtime ally of Maduro and a leading figure in the Chavismo movement founded by Hugo Chávez. She previously served as communications minister, foreign minister, and president of the Constituent National Assembly before becoming vice president in 2018. Analysts described her as one of the most powerful and hardline figures in the current system. Although US President Donald Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Rodríguez and that she showed willingness to work with Washington, she publicly denied any cooperation and reaffirmed loyalty to Maduro.

Rodríguez has since become the most visible face of the Venezuelan government amid uncertainty over Maduro’s fate.