CARACAS, Venezuela – The Venezuelan government on Monday swore in deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as interim president of the country.
The Venezuelan government’s effort aims to show the international community that the country is still being governed independently, following the stunning operation by U.S. forces that led to Maduro’s capture alongside his wife.
On Saturday, after the capture, Venezuela’s high court appointed her as interim president, additionally receiving support from the nation’s military.
"I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland," she said as she held up her right hand.
Rodriguez was sworn in by her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, who was reelected as speaker of the National Assembly.
Senior Venezuelan officials, including Maduro’s son, gathered in Caracas to proceed with a swearing-in ceremony of the National Assembly, who's term is set to last until 2031.
Events leading up to the Ceremony
Rodriguez has served as vice president to the Maduro regime since 2018. Her role entailed overseeing the majority of Venezuela’s economy, as well as its intelligence service.
Before the ceremony, Rodriguez took to Instagram to send the US a welcoming message.
"We invite the US government to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented towards shared development within the framework of international law to strengthen lasting community coexistence," she expressed with hopes of establishing “respectful relations” with President Donald Trump.
Her message comes after Trump threatened that she could “pay a very big price” if she did not adhere to the U.S.’s aims.
On Saturday, President Trump held a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, in which he commented that the US would “run” Venezuela with a “group.”
State Secretary Marco Rubio later took to several news platforms to assure that the U.S. would utilize its current “oil quarantine” on the country to ensure political change.
