Delcy Rodriguez Takes Over as Interim President of Venezuela Amid Maduro's Court Appearance
Delcy Rodriguez, the New Interim President of Venezuela
Delcy Rodriguez has been inaugurated as the interim president of Venezuela during a parliamentary session that called for the release of Nicolas Maduro from U.S. custody. Rodriguez, 56, who has served as vice president since 2018, expressed her sadness over what she termed the "kidnapping" of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured by U.S. forces during a night raid.
In dramatic courtroom scenes in New York, Maduro insisted that he is still the president of Venezuela, pleading not guilty to four charges of drug trafficking and terrorism. Meanwhile, the U.S. faced severe criticism at the UN, although the American ambassador stated that the world's largest energy reserves cannot be left in the hands of an illegitimate leader, labeling Maduro as a "fugitive from justice."
Prior to Maduro's court appearance, the UN Security Council held an emergency session to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Venezuelan ambassador Samuel Moncada claimed that his country had been the target of an "illegitimate armed attack, without any legal justification." U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, justified the attack by describing Maduro as "an illegitimate self-proclaimed president."
Maduro faces charges of conspiracy for narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy to possess such weapons. During his court appearance, a member of the audience shouted in Spanish that Maduro would "pay" for his actions. Maduro retorted that he is a "kidnapped president" and a "prisoner of war" before being escorted out in handcuffs.
Rodriguez stated that her government will cooperate with the U.S., inviting them to contribute to a joint development agenda under international law. Thousands of Venezuelans gathered outside the Federal Legislative Palace to show their support for Maduro, his wife, and the new interim president Rodriguez.
