The Uncertain Tenure of Venezuela’s Acting President
The political scene in Venezuela remains tense as Delcy Rodríguez continues as acting president, surpassing the 90-day limit imposed by the nation’s high court following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. in January. The absence of a public vote by lawmakers to extend her term beyond last Friday’s deadline leaves the duration of her presidency uncertain.
Despite Maduro being officially recognized as the president of Venezuela, the court has declared his current unavailability as a result of what they describe as a “kidnapping,” making it temporarily impossible for him to perform his duties. The Venezuelan constitution allows for the vice president to assume the role of acting president for up to 90 days in such cases, a position Rodríguez previously held. This temporary appointment may be extended for another 90 days by the national assembly.
The assembly, predominantly under Rodríguez’s party, holds the power to call for a snap election should the presidential position be deemed permanently unoccupied. However, the government has remained silent on the matter, providing no comments despite requests.
Ronal Rodríguez, an analyst at the Venezuela Observatory in Universidad del Rosario, Colombia, noted the government’s history of using legal interpretations to maintain power since Maduro’s inception in 2013. “And it would be no surprise if they did so again now,” he said. “They will most likely try to come up with some kind of explanation, such as it being Good Friday or the way the days were counted, but in the end, everything will be validated by a ruling from the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.”
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized on January 3 in Caracas and extradited to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking, both having pleaded not guilty. Rodríguez and her allies demand their release, labeling the detention as a kidnapping, a sentiment echoed through billboards and murals across Caracas.
In a surprising move, the Trump administration opted to collaborate with Rodríguez after Maduro’s removal, bypassing the country’s political opposition. Assuming her leadership role, Rodríguez has engaged with international investors to revitalize Venezuela’s oil sector and has made significant changes in government positions, including replacing Maduro’s defense minister and attorney general. Her efforts have received commendation from President Donald Trump.
Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department lifted sanctions on Rodríguez, while the U.S. State Department recognized her as Venezuela’s “sole Head of State.” The United States ceased to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president in 2019 after he claimed victory in an election broadly dismissed as fraudulent due to the exclusion of opposition parties and candidates.
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