Who Is Delcy Rodríguez? Venezuela’s Vice President Named Acting Head Of State After Maduro’s Abduction

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s vice president, was ordered by the country’s Supreme Court to assume the role of acting president amid a sudden power vacuum after the reported abduction of Nicolás Maduro and US military strikes in Caracas. Rodríguez publicly denounced the US action and demanded proof of life for Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, while judges cited the need to guarantee administrative continuity.

What Happened

According to reports, US forces carried out strikes across Caracas and other areas and detained President Maduro. Within hours, Venezuela’s Supreme Court Constitutional Chamber issued a ruling instructing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take on the duties of the presidency "in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the Nation." In the immediate aftermath, Rodríguez condemned the strikes as "brutal aggression" and called for Maduro’s immediate release.

Who Is Delcy Rodríguez?

Born in Caracas on May 18, 1969, Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez is a lawyer by training who graduated from the Central University of Venezuela. She is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, a leftist guerrilla leader and founder of the Socialist League in the 1970s, who died in state custody in 1976. Her brother, also named Jorge, holds a prominent role in the government as head of the National Assembly.

Political Career and Key Posts

Rodríguez rose quickly through the ranks of the ruling movement and has been a prominent international spokesperson for Venezuela’s Bolivarian project. Her notable appointments include:

• Minister of Communication and Information (2013–2014)
• Foreign Minister (2014–2017)
• President of the pro-government Constituent Assembly that expanded presidential powers (2017)
• Vice President of Venezuela (appointed June 2018)

In addition to the vice presidency, Rodríguez has been given important economic portfolios. She has served as finance minister and—most recently—was assigned responsibility for the oil ministry in August 2024, a critical role as US sanctions target Venezuela’s principal industry.

Policy, Reputation and International Contacts

Rodríguez is often portrayed as more politically moderate than many of the military figures who first aligned with Hugo Chávez in the 1990s, particularly on economic matters. She has pursued relatively orthodox measures aimed at curbing hyperinflation and has become a key interlocutor with Venezuela’s weakened private sector.

Observers note that her prominence and pragmatic ties have made her an attractive interlocutor in international negotiations. She has been linked with figures in the US oil sector and with private security and diplomatic actors, including Erik Prince and Richard Grenell, who have at times sought channels to negotiate US-Venezuela arrangements. Reports also cite contact with US political figures, such as Senator Marco Rubio.

Immediate Aftermath And Legal Limits

After Maduro’s reported abduction, Rodríguez demanded proof of life and used state television to assert that "there is only one president in this country, and his name is Nicolás Maduro," while also accepting the court order that made her acting head of state. The Supreme Court’s decision framed her role as temporary and aimed at ensuring continuity of government.

Legal analysts warn that some constitutional guarantees may be temporarily restricted under the court’s order, potentially limiting the public scope of the acting president’s authority until the crisis is resolved.

Quote: "We call on the peoples of the great homeland to remain united because what was done to Venezuela can be done to anyone," Rodríguez said in an address aired on state television, condemning the reported foreign intervention.

As the situation develops, international responses and legal interpretations of the court ruling will determine how much authority Rodríguez exercises and for how long. Reporting remains fluid; readers should expect updates as new verified information becomes available.