Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday night directed Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of interim president following the removal of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.
In its ruling, the court said Rodríguez would take on all the responsibilities and powers of the presidency in an acting capacity to ensure the continuity of government and the defence of the country. The judges said the decision was necessary to maintain administrative stability and safeguard national sovereignty in light of what they described as the president’s forced absence.
The court added that it would continue deliberations to determine the appropriate legal framework to guarantee the uninterrupted functioning of the state, governance structures, and national defence during the period of transition.
The development came as US President Donald Trump said Washington would temporarily oversee Venezuela until a new leadership arrangement is put in place. Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the United States would manage the situation until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be organised.
Trump provided limited details on how the United States intended to administer the country, despite Venezuela’s vice-president, legislature, and military remaining in place and openly opposing the US action. He said US oil companies would be deployed to Venezuela to rehabilitate its oil infrastructure, even as he maintained that the US embargo on Venezuelan oil remained in force and that American forces would stay on alert.
According to Trump, major US oil firms would invest billions of dollars to repair what he described as severely damaged oil facilities and restore production, which he said would ultimately benefit Venezuela’s economy.
Meanwhile, a plane carrying Maduro landed shortly before 5pm local time at Stewart Airport in New York, from where he was expected to be transported to New York City, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Trump said the US intervention would involve a group largely made up of senior American officials and would focus on reviving oil infrastructure while ensuring that the welfare of Venezuelans is addressed during the transition period.
