Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in this Monday before the National Assembly controlled by chavismo as president of Venezuela.
In the ceremony, Delcy swore in her brother Jorge, renewed as president of the Assembly, and the son of Nicolás Maduro.
"I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes we have held hostage in the United States, President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. I come with pain, but also with honor, to swear in the name of all Venezuelans for our liberator father Simón Bolívar, who is the guiding light and historical beacon for the future of Venezuela," he said.
"I swear by Commander Hugo Chávez, who gave life to millions of Venezuelans and restored their dignity as citizens," he added.
Rodríguez stated that he will work for the peace and spiritual tranquility of the Venezuelans.
In the midst of a day filled with political tension and symbolism, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro Moros, defended his father and stood alongside Delcy Rodríguez before the National Assembly.
The deputy expressed his "unconditional support" for Rodríguez, who is serving as the interim president of the country following the capture of Maduro Moros by the United States on Saturday, January 3, and whose confirmation was anticipated in Parliament.
At the end of his speech, he sent a direct message to the Venezuelan president: “The homeland is in good hands,” a phrase that reinforces the narrative of continuity of power within the innermost circle of chavismo.
During the opening of the National Assembly, Maduro Guerra focused a significant part of his speech on defending his father against U.S. justice. He asserted that international law "exists to restrain empires" and condemned what he described as a historical challenge following the actions of the United States.
"My role in the coming days will be to resort to all procedures, all forums, and all spaces to bring back Nicolás Maduro Moro, my brother, my president," Rodríguez stated before the deputies, as he called for a round of applause for those he referred to as "fallen heroes on January 3rd."
The moment did not go unnoticed. During his swearing-in, Jorge Rodríguez repeated a gesture that, according to the Alerta Mundial account on X, Nicolás Maduro had made previously after his arrest.
The signal was interpreted as a demonstration of unity and political support amidst a situation marked by uncertainty and the emotional impact of the president's detention.
Yesterday, Delcy Rodríguez stated that her government is willing to establish a relationship “based on respect” and “within the framework of international legality” with the U.S.
Rodríguez made those statements from Caracas to demand the “immediate release” of Maduro, whom he described as “the only president” of the country.
In his statement, he pointed out that "the Venezuelan people... are outraged" by what he described as an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping" of both the president and Flores, and affirmed that "all of Venezuela" has been activated.
In the political arena, the vice president stated that the country “will not be a colony of anyone” and described what happened as a “barbarity” that, according to her, “violates international law.”
In the same speech, he asserted that the government was "ready to defend Venezuela" and its "natural resources," with an emphasis on "hydrocarbons" and "energy resources."
It was in that final stretch where Rodríguez laid out the condition for any subsequent conversation.
“We are open to relationships based on respect… within the framework of international law and the laws of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” and he concluded: “It is the only thing we will accept for a type of relationship” after what he described as an attack and a military aggression against the nation and against Caracas.
The appearance came after Trump stated that his team had spoken with Rodríguez and that she had shown herself “willing” to engage with Washington, although the transcript does not provide additional details about that contact.
The U.S. president assured that his administration will control Venezuela and its oil profits following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, and that Delcy Rodríguez will lead a transitional government under conditions imposed by Washington.
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