Venezuela SC appoints Delcy Rodríguez acting president a day after US attack kills 40

Delcy Rodríguez

The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president following the detention of Nicolás Maduro in a US operation earlier in the day.

In its ruling, the court said Rodríguez would take over “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela” to ensure administrative continuity and safeguard national defence during Maduro’s absence, reported Reuters.

The court added that it would further deliberate on the situation to determine the legal framework required to guarantee the continuity of the state, the functioning of government, and the defence of Venezuela’s sovereignty amid what it described as the president’s forced absence.

The decision comes amid escalating political uncertainty after US forces detained Maduro early Saturday, a move that has triggered widespread legal and diplomatic repercussions.