Delcy Rodríguez: Who is the vice president who can replace Maduro in Venezuela

In the early hours of this Saturday (3), Venezuela plunged into an unprecedented crisis. President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in a United States military operation, according to an announcement made by Donald Trump.

The action, classified by the Venezuelan government as “brutal aggression”, triggered a race for answers and opened space for the rise of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who demanded “proof of life” from the presidential couple in a statement broadcast on state TV.

INFLUENCE ON CHAVISMO

Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, 56 years old, is one of the most influential figures in Chavismo. A lawyer graduated from the Central University of Venezuela, with postgraduate studies in Paris and London, she entered politics in 2003 and held strategic positions in the governments of Hugo Chávez and Maduro.

She was minister of Communication, Foreign Affairs and president of the Constituent Assembly before assuming the vice-presidency in 2018. Since 2024, she has also commanded the Ministry of Petroleum, reinforcing her position in the hard core of power.

With Maduro’s capture, Delcy became the center of attention. In his speech, he called on the Armed Forces and militias to defend the territory and called for popular mobilization against foreign intervention.

The Venezuelan Constitution provides that, in the event of the president’s definitive absence, the vice president takes over the position on an interim basis, a scenario that places Delcy as the immediate successor and protagonist of a historic moment.

CHALLENGES

Known for her combative profile, Delcy accumulates political and economic influence, but also faces international sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries, which have frozen her assets and restricted their circulation. If he assumes the Presidency, he will have to deal with gigantic challenges: stabilizing the economy, containing the diplomatic crisis and maintaining the cohesion of the Chavista regime amid extreme polarization.

Maduro’s absence and the sudden rise of Delcy Rodríguez mark a turning point in Venezuela’s recent history. Between external pressures and internal tensions, the vice president is preparing for a role that could redefine the future of the country and Chavismo itself.