Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, marking one of the most dramatic political developments in the country’s modern history.
In a ruling issued by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice late Saturday, the court said Rodríguez should immediately take over presidential powers to ensure continuity of government, national security and administrative stability amid what it described as an “extraordinary absence” of the sitting president.
The decision follows confirmation by United States authorities that President Maduro had been removed from Venezuela and taken into U.S. custody in a military operation that has triggered widespread international concern and diplomatic fallout.According to the court, Rodríguez is to exercise “all constitutional functions and responsibilities of the presidency” until further notice, citing provisions that allow for interim leadership in the event the president is unable to discharge his duties.
Rodríguez, a lawyer and seasoned political figure, has served as Venezuela’s vice president since 2018 and previously held roles including foreign minister and president of the Constituent Assembly. She is regarded as one of the most powerful figures within the ruling political establishment and a close ally of Maduro.
In an initial address following the ruling, Rodríguez condemned the U.S. action as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and reiterated the government’s position that Maduro remains the country’s legitimate president. She vowed to maintain institutional stability and resist what she described as foreign interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
The United States has defended its actions by citing long-standing criminal allegations against Maduro, while President Donald Trump said Washington would oversee a temporary transition aimed at restoring order and reviving Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy.
International reaction has been sharply divided. Several governments and regional blocs have condemned the U.S. operation and called for respect for international law, while others have urged a peaceful political transition and the protection of civilians. The United Nations is expected to convene an emergency session to address the unfolding crisis.
As Venezuela confronts heightened political uncertainty, the appointment of Delcy Rodríguez as interim president places her at the centre of a volatile power struggle with significant implications for governance, regional stability and global diplomacy.
