Venezuela has undergone a dramatic political shift as Vice President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez was formally sworn in on Monday as the interim President of the country. Her appointment came shortly after former President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power following a weekend military action supported by the United States. Maduro later appeared in a New York court to face drug trafficking charges.
Rodríguez, 56, a labor lawyer known for her strong ties to the ruling party and collaborative links with the private sector, assumed office in a formal ceremony. The oath was administered by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who currently serves as the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
Alongside Rodríguez, 283 newly elected lawmakers who won seats in the May elections were also sworn in. Only a small portion of the new assembly belongs to the opposition, after several key opposition groups — including the faction associated with Nobel Prize winner María Corina Machado — chose to boycott the election.
The only notable absentee during the ceremony was Cilia Flores, Venezuela’s former First Lady and a long-time political powerhouse. She remains in U.S. custody following the recent developments.
This transition marks one of the most significant political upheavals in Venezuela in recent years and leaves the nation — already battered by economic and social turmoil — facing yet another period of uncertainty.