Delcy Rodríguez was formally sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela on Monday, assuming the leadership of the crisis-torn nation two days after U.S. special forces captured longtime leader Nicolás Maduro in a dramatic overnight raid.
Rodríguez, 56, who had served as Maduro's vice president since 2018, took the oath of office before the National Assembly in Caracas.
The ceremony was presided over by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, the head of the legislature, as lawmakers chanted slogans of support for the deposed leader.
"I come with pain for the kidnapping of two heroes that we have as hostages in the United States."
Rodríguez said during her address, referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were flown to New York on Saturday to face federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
The transition follows a weekend of international shock after President Donald Trump ordered a military operation to seize Maduro.
In the immediate aftermath, Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered Rodríguez to assume the presidency in an acting capacity, a move that was subsequently endorsed by the Venezuelan military.
While Rodríguez initially condemned the U.S. operation as "barbaric" and a violation of sovereignty, her tone shifted toward conciliation following a warning from the White House.
On Sunday, she issued a statement inviting the U.S. government to collaborate on an "agenda of cooperation" aimed at shared development and peaceful coexistence.
U.S. officials have indicated they view Rodríguez, a lawyer with experience in the oil and finance sectors, as a workable interim figure.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has already rejected Rodríguez’s appointment, calling for a full democratic transition.
As Rodríguez takes control of the executive branch, Maduro remains in U.S. custody.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges during an initial court appearance in New York on Monday, insisting through his legal team that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela.
