In a dramatic turn of events, Venezuela's military has officially recognised Delcy Rodriguez, the deputy to ousted president Nicolas Maduro, as the country's acting leader. This declaration came on Sunday, just a day after United States forces successfully extracted the former head of state to face trial on serious charges.
Military Endorsement and Call for Normalcy
Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez issued a formal statement endorsing a Supreme Court ruling that appointed Rodriguez as the acting president for a period of 90 days. The military's high command threw its weight behind this constitutional move, signalling a pivotal shift in the nation's power structure.
In a televised address aimed at calming the nation, Defence Minister Padrino urged the Venezuelan population to resume their normal daily activities. "I call on the people of Venezuela to resume their activities of all kinds, economic, work and education, in the coming days," he stated. This appeal followed widespread panic and disruption triggered by pre-dawn US military strikes on Caracas, which reportedly killed at least 40 people.
US Operation and Charges Against Maduro
The chain of events began on Saturday when US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had conducted a "large-scale strike" in Venezuela. The operation resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following reports of multiple explosions and low-flying aircraft, Venezuelan government forces were deployed nationwide, and the country entered a state of national emergency.
Maduro and his wife have now been indicted in a New York court on charges of terrorism and drug trafficking. Trump has accused Maduro of running a "narco-terrorist organisation." A photo released by Trump on his Truth Social platform showed Maduro in handcuffs, wearing a blacked-out mask.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted an unsealed indictment detailing the charges, which include narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracies, and possession of machine guns. These offences carry severe prison sentences, especially when combined with drug trafficking charges.
US Stance on Future Elections
Meanwhile, the United States has indicated that discussions about holding fresh elections in Venezuela are premature. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the timeline for elections following Maduro's capture. When asked how soon Venezuelans could go to the polls, Rubio told NBC's "Meet the Press": "All of that, I think, is premature at this point."
He clarified that the immediate focus of the Trump administration is on ensuring the remaining leadership in Caracas addresses the pressing policy challenges that existed under Maduro's rule. "What we are focused on right now is all of the problems we had when Maduro was there. We still have those problems in terms of them needing to be addressed," Rubio was quoted as saying. The US aims to provide the new interim leadership an opportunity to tackle these deep-rooted issues before moving towards an electoral process.
The situation remains fluid as Venezuela navigates this unprecedented political and constitutional crisis under its new acting president, with the military's support being a crucial factor for stability.
