Delsy Rodríguez officially becomes the interim president of Venezuela

Venezuelan Vice President Delsy Rodríguez was appointed as interim president by the National Assembly on Monday.

On Monday, Delsy Rodríguez took the oath of office at the National Assembly of Venezuela, formally becoming the interim president of Venezuela. At the same time, Nicolas Maduro, who was arrested last Saturday, pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared in court in the United States.

Delsy Rodríguez said, "I stand here with a heavy heart because two heroes have been kidnapped and are currently being held hostage in the United States. [...] At the same time, I am honored to take the oath on behalf of all the people of Venezuela." Delsy Rodríguez was previously Maduro's vice president and the first in line of succession according to the Venezuelan constitution. The country's Supreme Court had already ordered her to assume the duties of the head of state on Saturday, for a period of 90 days, which can be extended. The Venezuelan military announced its support for her on Sunday.

The president of the National Assembly, also the brother of Delsy Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez, said, "Today, [...] in accordance with constitutional principles, the interim president of the Republic, lawyer Delsy Eloya Rodríguez Gómez, takes the oath." Jorge Rodríguez is also the chief representative in negotiations with the United States. On Monday, he was re-elected without any doubt as the president of the National Assembly. The ruling camp holds 256 out of 286 seats, with only a few opposition members participating in the legislative elections held in May 2025.

Nicolas Maduro, the deposed president, son and re-elected member, Nicolas Maduro Granda (nickname "Nicolasito," meaning "Little Nicolas"), expressed "unconditional support" for Delsy Rodríguez at the swearing-in ceremony of the new National Assembly (already planned), and insisted that his father and stepmother, First Lady Cilia Flores, "will definitely return."

On the same day, two days after Nicolas Maduro was forcibly taken from Caracas by U.S. military action to the United States, he appeared in court in New York and pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853536153128011/

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