Venezuela’s Supreme Court has appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the duties of the presidency on an interim basis, following what Caracas described as the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States and his removal from the country—a move that has triggered widespread international condemnation.
In an official statement, the court said the decision was taken to ensure the continuity of state institutions amid what it termed Maduro’s “forced absence.” It stressed that the measure is precautionary in nature and intended to confront what it described as “foreign aggression,” guarantee the comprehensive defense of the nation, and establish a legal roadmap to safeguard the constitutional order until the causes of the president’s absence are resolved.
In the same context, Venezuela’s Constitutional Chamber said the exceptional circumstances resulting from Maduro’s abduction require extraordinary measures to preserve state continuity and protect the constitutional system.
Meanwhile, US authorities announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been placed in a detention facility in Brooklyn ahead of his appearance before a federal court in New York.
US forces subjected Maduro to an initial interrogation in preparation for trial, as the US Department of Justice released an indictment accusing him of abusing state authority for alleged illegal activities, foremost among them drug trafficking.