Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to temporarily assume the powers of President Nicolás Maduro, following his arrest by United States authorities after a bombing campaign in Caracas.
The Constitutional Chamber of the country’s highest court ruled “that Rodríguez assume and exercise as acting president all the attributions, duties, and powers inherent to the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the integral defense of the nation.”
The court’s decision does not declare a permanent absence for Maduro, which would require elections within 30 days.
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had overthrown and captured Maduro after military strikes on Venezuela. Maduro was transported to a military base near New York City and is expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.
President Trump, along with senior U.S. officials, provided details about Maduro’s detention. Trump stated that the United States “will govern” Venezuela until there is a “peaceful transition.”
Marta Valiñas, president of the Fact-Finding Mission, commented: “Given the military intervention by the United States and the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro, as indicated by the U.S. administration, on charges of ‘narcoterrorism against the United States and its citizens,’ the Mission underscores the need to maintain focus on serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity that have been committed against the Venezuelan population.”
