Venezuela is facing a historic political shift following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States on 3 January 2026. Into this power vacuum stepped Delcy Rodríguez, sworn in as acting president two days later.
A lawyer, diplomat, and seasoned politician, Rodríguez has held top positions under both Hugo Chávez and Maduro, including vice president, foreign minister, and petroleum minister.
Known for her influence over Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and intelligence services, she now faces the daunting task of stabilizing a country in crisis while navigating tense relations with the United States.
Who Is Delcy Rodríguez? Her Political Rise and Key Positions
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, born 18 May 1969, has been a central figure in Venezuelan politics for decades. She began her career under Hugo Chávez, holding lower-level government roles, before ascending to major leadership positions under Maduro.
From 2013 to 2014, she served as Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information, later becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017. She then presided over the Constituent Assembly from 2017 to 2018, a body created to counter opposition forces in the legislature.
Rodríguez also oversaw the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) from 2018 and was Venezuela’s Minister of Petroleum from 2024 to 2025. Her time in government earned her a reputation for effectively managing crises, including stabilizing the Venezuelan economy amid US sanctions and boosting oil production despite international pressure. She has also been a key player in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela’s national leadership, further consolidating her influence.
Vice Presidency and Succession
Rodríguez’s role as vice president since 2018 positioned her directly in the line of succession. Her tenure included overseeing the country’s oil-dependent economy and managing Venezuela’s feared intelligence services. Between 2019 and 2023, her vice-presidency faced disputes and political challenges, yet she maintained loyalty to Maduro, earning both domestic and international recognition for her control of critical state mechanisms.
When Maduro was captured in a U.S. military operation in January 2026, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to assume the acting presidency. Backed by the military, her rise was immediate, making her the country’s top leader during a period of intense uncertainty. While she initially offered cooperation with the Trump administration, she simultaneously affirmed Maduro as Venezuela’s rightful president, signaling a delicate balancing act between international diplomacy and domestic legitimacy.
International Relations and Sanctions
Rodríguez’s political career has been marked by international scrutiny. The European Union, the United States, and Canada have imposed sanctions on her for alleged human rights violations and her role in the Venezuelan political crisis. Despite this, she has cultivated relationships with sectors of the international oil industry and Wall Street, which have historically resisted U.S.-led regime change. Her leadership style reflects a pragmatic approach, leveraging both political alliances and economic expertise to maintain her position within the government.
Rodríguez’s statements following Maduro’s capture illustrate her complex stance toward the United States. She has labeled U.S. actions “an atrocity that violates international law” but later adopted a more conciliatory tone, proposing collaboration with the American government under international legal frameworks. Analysts suggest this duality could be an effort to balance revolutionary credentials with the practical need to stabilize Venezuela’s economy and secure legitimacy abroad.
Personal Background and Early Life
Delcy Rodríguez comes from a family deeply embedded in Venezuela’s socialist movement. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, serves as president of the Maduro-controlled National Assembly, while their father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a founder of the Socialist League, a Marxist party.
Their father was arrested for involvement in a high-profile kidnapping and died in police custody in 1976. Rodríguez earned her law degree from the Central University of Venezuela in 1993, actively participating in student leadership during her studies.
She later specialized in labor law in Paris, though she did not complete the program. She has also served as a professor at her alma mater and led the Venezuelan Association of Labor Lawyers, highlighting a blend of academic and political influence that underpins her approach to governance.
Future and Challenges
The path ahead for interim President Delcy Rodríguez remains uncertain. Venezuela’s constitution requires elections within 30 days if the presidency becomes permanently vacant, but the Supreme Court has declared Maduro’s absence temporary, allowing Rodríguez to govern without an immediate electoral mandate.
Experts warn that she must navigate complex domestic politics, including uniting factions within the ruling socialist party, while responding to pressure from the United States and other international actors.
How she handles this transitional period will shape the country’s political trajectory and determine whether she can transform from a loyalist vice president into a credible national leader in her own right.
