Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president

Delcy Rodríguez assumes office amid Maduro’s arrest
Venezuela’s parliament swore in Delcy Rodríguez as interim president after US forces arrested Nicolás Maduro, prompting lawmakers to demand his release. Rodríguez, who has served as vice president since 2018, called the detention of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, a “kidnapping” carried out during an overnight US operation. As she took office, political tensions intensified inside and outside Venezuela, while Maduro’s supporters continued to assert that he remains the country’s legitimate president.

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Court proceedings spark global reaction
Just hours before Rodríguez took office, Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom and pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and terrorism, while insisting he still leads Venezuela. The court case fueled sharp exchanges at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where Venezuela’s ambassador accused the US of launching an illegal armed attack. In response, the US defended its action as a targeted law enforcement operation and described Maduro as an illegitimate leader and a fugitive from justice, even as protests and tense scenes unfolded during the hearing.

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