Venezuela’s vice president and oil minister Delcy Rodriguez was formally sworn in on Monday as the country’s interim president, as US-deposed President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York court on drug charges, after the Trump administration removed him from power in a dramatic weekend military action.
Rodriguez, a 56-year-old labor lawyer known for close connections to the private sector and her devotion to the ruling party, was sworn in by her brother Jorge, who is the head of the national assembly legislature.
Venezuela’s vice president Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president on Jan. 5, 2025 after the country’s president Nicolás Maduro was captured by the US military. AFP via Getty Images
Rodriguez taking Venezuela’s oath of office to become interim president. VTV HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock
Maduro and Cilia Flores being transported to Manhattan federal court. ZUMAPRESS.com
A courtroom sketch of Maduro and Flores at their arraignment. REUTERSAlso sworn in on Monday were 283 lawmakers elected last May. Just a small number of are classed as opposition — most of the opposition, especially the faction directed by Nobel Prize winner Machado, boycotted the contest. The only lawmaker not in attendance was first lady Cilia Flores, who is in US custody.
