Delcy Rodrigues appointed Venezuela’s acting president

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has appointed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez acting head of state.

"Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ruled that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez immediately assume the duties of president of the republic in strict accordance with the constitution and laws of Venezuela," Judge Tania d’Amelio said.

This decision was made following the January 3, 2026 foreign military aggression and the abduction of Venezuelan legitimate President Nicolas Maduro.

Hours after the capture of Maduro and his wife, Delcy Rodriguez chaired a National Defense Council session, surrounded by other ministers and senior officials, and demanded the couple’s “immediate release” while condemning the U.S. military operation.

Rodríguez, 56, is from Caracas and studied law at the Central University of Venezuela. She served as minister of communication and information from 2013 to 2014 and later became foreign minister from 2014 to 2017. 

In 2017, Rodríguez became president of the Constituent National Assembly that expanded the government’s powers after the opposition won the 2015 legislative elections. In 2018, Maduro appointed her vice president for his second term. She retained the post during his third presidential term. 

On January 3, the United States attacked facilities in Caracas. A state of emergency has been imposed in Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captures and taken out of the country.