Venezuela’s parliament on Monday officially inaugurated Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, two days after US forces captured former leader Nicolás Maduro and transported him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president, took the oath of office before the National Assembly, pledging her commitment to the nation. She expressed anguish over what she described as the abduction of national figures, referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are currently in US custody.
The parliamentary session also resulted in the re-election of Rodríguez’s brother, Jorge Rodríguez, as Speaker of the National Assembly, further consolidating executive and legislative power within the family.
Addressing lawmakers, Jorge Rodríguez vowed to exhaust all legal and diplomatic options to secure the return of Nicolás Maduro, whom he described as both his brother and president.
Maduro’s son, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, also spoke during the session, assuring citizens of stability and continuity while pledging the family’s support until his parents return.
In the early hours of January 3, US military forces reportedly carried out coordinated operations in Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently flown to New York.
On Monday, January 5, the former Venezuelan leader appeared in a US federal court, where he pleaded not guilty to the drug trafficking charges, maintaining his innocence.