The National Assembly of Venezuela swore Delcy Rodríguez in as interim president this Monday, a clear sign that she had the regime’s approval for her political takeover, despite her conciliatory gestures toward the United States.
The strongest public support came from Nicolás Maduro’s own son, who said he would support her “unconditionally.”
Nicolás Maduro Guerra’s remarks mark his first public support for Rodríguez, as President Donald Trump said he would work with Washington to “Make Venezuela Great Again.” Maduro Guerra spoke during the installation of the National Assembly of Venezuela in Caracas on Monday.
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“To you, Delcy, my unconditional support. Count on me and my family,” said Maduro Guerra, after describing emotionally what he called difficult hours for his family.
After initially describing Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces as “barbaric,” Rodríguez adopted a more conciliatory tone on Sunday night, urging the U.S. to work with her country on a cooperative agenda.
Jorge Rodríguez, Delcy’s brother, was reappointed as president of the Assembly for a sixth consecutive annual term. He said she would be sworn in “later on Monday,” after his reappointment.
Her imminent inauguration comes a few days after Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and taken to New York, a move that plunged the oil-rich country into political uncertainty and intensified scrutiny of Washington’s intentions.
Maduro Guerra, 34, has served in the National Assembly since 2021 and was sworn in for a new legislative term on Monday. Often nicknamed “Nicolasito,” he is Maduro’s only son and is frequently seen beside his father at rallies and public events. The governing party promotes him as part of a new generation of leaders, with a focus mainly on religious matters.
Maduro Guerra echoed Delcy Rodríguez’s call for foreign investments based on respect. He said he had indirect communication with his father.
While the parliamentary session was ongoing, Maduro supporters took to the streets for the second day in a row to protest his capture. The only deputy absent among the 285 elected last year was Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, whose empty seat and name were shown on state television.
The lawmakers of the governing party appeared mostly serious, though many flashed victory signs and clenched fists in a show of resilience. Maduro’s longtime allies, including his right-hand man Juan Escalona, received visible gestures of support from colleagues.
The Future of Delcy
The Constitution of Venezuela — dating from 1999, at the dawn of the socialist era led by the late presidential icon Hugo Chávez — envisions different scenarios depending on how Venezuelan authorities classify Maduro’s exit from office.
In a decision issued on Sunday, the Supreme Court of Justice, known for its submission to the government, indicated that it is treating the episode as a forced temporary absence, a designation that preserves the existing governmental framework while initiating a constitutional deadline until elections are called.
In this context, Rodríguez could exercise executive authority for up to 90 days, extending the interim period to April. The Constitution allows a single 90-day extension, which would push the deadline to July and would require lawmakers to decide whether Maduro’s absence has become permanent.
If the National Assembly declares absolute absence during the first year of Maduro’s current term, the charter requires a new presidential election within 30 days, opening the path to a vote as early as August, should lawmakers move quickly to formalize his departure.
The members of the new assembly were elected in a snap election in May 2025, amid widespread disappointment and fear among voters. Most of the opposition, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, boycotted, arguing that the election was an attempt to eclipse Maduro’s re-election in July 2024, widely considered fraudulent. The opposition says Machado’s substitute candidate, Edmundo González, won by a wide margin.
A more moderate faction of the opposition, including former governor and two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, chose to participate in the parliamentary vote and in a subsequent regional election. That group won fewer than 20 seats, well below what was needed to influence legislation. Another opposition bloc, broadly seen as aligned with the government, won 13 seats. The assembly has 285 members.
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