Venezuela’s Supreme Court has directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume leadership of the country as interim president following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, who was reportedly taken out of the country by the United States.
According to the AFP, in a ruling issued late Saturday, the court said Rodríguez would temporarily take over the full responsibilities of the presidency to ensure continuity of governance and protect national sovereignty.
According to the court, the decision was taken to prevent a power vacuum and maintain state operations in the wake of what it described as the “forced absence” of the elected president.
“The Vice President is hereby mandated to assume, in an acting capacity, all constitutional powers and duties of the President of the Republic in order to preserve administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the nation,” the ruling stated.
The court added that it would continue deliberations to determine the appropriate legal framework for managing the country’s affairs while the situation surrounding Maduro’s removal remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump said Washington would oversee Venezuela’s affairs pending a political transition, though he offered limited details on how this would be implemented.
“We’re going to run the country until a safe, orderly and responsible transition can take place,” Trump said during a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
He noted that the plan would involve economic intervention, particularly in Venezuela’s oil sector, while maintaining existing sanctions.
“Our major oil companies will invest billions of dollars to repair the damaged oil infrastructure and restore production, while making sure the Venezuelan people are also taken care of,” Trump said, adding that the US oil embargo would remain in effect.
Trump also confirmed that US forces would remain on high alert as developments unfold.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that a plane carrying Maduro landed at Stewart International Airport in New York shortly before 5 p.m. local time, from where he was expected to be transferred to New York City.
Despite the US announcement, Venezuela’s vice presidency, legislature and military leadership have publicly opposed foreign control of the country, raising questions about how the proposed intervention would be enforced.
