Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, The Venezuelan VP Turned Acting President After Maduro’s Capture?

Last Updated:January 04, 2026, 09:59 IST

As the shock of Maduro’s capture reverberates through Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has stepped in as the country’s acting leader under constitutional succession rules.

Delcy Rodríguez, 56, is no new face in Venezuelan politics. (Image: REUTERS)

The dramatic US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has triggered the most serious political vacuum in the country in years. Under Venezuela’s constitution, the vice president assumes leadership during a president’s temporary or absolute absence, placing Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez at the centre of national authority within hours of the operation.

Rodríguez, 56, is no new face in Venezuelan politics. A lawyer by training and one of the most recognisable loyalists of the ruling socialist establishment, she has served across the most powerful institutions of the chavista system — the political order built under former President Hugo Chávez and continued by Maduro.

Her long proximity to Maduro, who once called her a “tiger" for her fierce defence of his government, and her control over key ministries have made her one of the most influential figures in the state apparatus.

What Does Venezuela’s Constitution Say About Succession?

Articles 233 and 234 of Venezuela’s constitution outline the procedures for presidential absence. Whether the absence is temporary or absolute, the vice president is mandated to take over presidential duties. Following Maduro’s capture, Rodríguez chaired a Defense Council meeting from Caracas—Venezuela’s capital—assuming charge as the country’s acting leader while calling for the president’s “immediate release".

Her appearance on state television was significant because earlier reports had suggested she might be in Russia. Despite this, state media broadcast her presence in Caracas as she addressed cabinet members and senior officials with the Venezuelan flag behind her, denouncing the US operation as a violation of sovereignty.

What Roles Has Rodríguez Held In The Venezuelan State?

Rodríguez’s political ascent spans two decades, shaped by the evolution of chavismo since the era of Hugo Chávez. A native of Caracas, she studied law at the Central University of Venezuela and began rising quickly through the political ranks in the 2010s. Her early roles included serving as minister of communication and information from 2013 to 2014, followed by her appointment as foreign minister between 2014 and 2017.

In that role, she defended Maduro’s government on global platforms such as the United Nations, rejecting allegations of democratic backsliding and human rights abuses. She also became known for confrontational diplomacy, including an attempt to enter a Mercosur meeting in Buenos Aires after Venezuela was suspended from the bloc.

In 2017, she was appointed president of the pro-government Constituent Assembly, which significantly expanded Maduro’s powers after the opposition’s legislative victory in 2015. A year later, Maduro named her vice president for his second term, describing her on X as a “young woman, brave, seasoned, daughter of a martyr, revolutionary and tested in a thousand battles."

Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a left-wing guerrilla fighter who founded the revolutionary Liga Socialista in the 1970s, a lineage that continues to shape her political identity. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez — currently president of the Assembly — is one of Maduro’s closest confidants, making the siblings one of the most powerful duos within the government.

How Much Power Does She Hold Inside The Government?

Beyond the vice presidency, Rodríguez has simultaneously served as finance minister and oil minister, portfolios that together place her at the centre of Venezuela’s economic survival. Managing the country’s collapsing oil sector, navigating US sanctions and stabilising a battered economy have made her the government’s chief economic authority.

Her approach has involved orthodox economic measures aimed at curbing hyperinflation and dealing with a weakened private sector. Analysts quoted by CNN describe her as an “effective operator" with “strong leadership skills", someone who enjoys Maduro’s “full trust" and commands influence across ministries, including the Ministry of Defence. This level of centralised authority is particularly crucial after Maduro’s capture.

Is She Likely To Cooperate With The United States?

This remains one of the most contested questions. Hours after the operation, US President Donald Trump claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken to Rodríguez, and that she had been “sworn in" as president and expressed willingness to “do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again." Trump said the US would run Venezuela “in the immediate future."

Rodríguez contradicted that publicly, insisting Maduro remained the only president. Analysts quoted by CNN argue that she is not a moderate figure who would easily shift towards Washington. Imdat Oner, a former diplomat and policy analyst, noted that she has long been “one of the most powerful and hard-line figures in the entire system".

Some analysts believe her elevation may be part of a broader understanding between the US and key Venezuelan actors as they prepare for a post-Maduro transition, but her public statements have shown no indication so far that she is willing to cooperate with Washington.

What Does Her Rise Mean For Venezuela Right Now?

Rodríguez’s takeover comes at a moment of profound uncertainty. While the constitution places her in the leadership role, she has refused to acknowledge any vacancy at the top, insisting Maduro remains in charge. Her immediate actions — convening defence officials, rejecting US claims and mobilising support across Latin America — reflect continuity rather than change.

For now, she is the most visible face of the Venezuelan state, holding authority across political, economic and security institutions. Whether she remains a caretaker figure, a hard-line stabiliser or a bridge towards a negotiated political transition will depend on developments in the coming days, but her centrality to the crisis is unmistakable.

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