Delcy Rodríguez
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez is a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who has served as the acting president of Venezuela since 3 January 2026, after the 2026 [United States intervention in Venezuela|United States captured and de facto removed] President Nicolás Maduro from power. Rodríguez was formally sworn in two days later. She was the vice president of Venezuela from 2018 to 2026. Rodríguez also held several positions under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro: she was Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information of Venezuela from 2013 to 2014, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017, President of the Constituent Assembly of Venezuela from 2017 to 2018, head of Bolivarian National Intelligence Service from 2018, and Minister of Petroleum since 2024.
Rodríguez is a member of the national leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The European Union, the United States, and Canada have placed sanctions on her due to claimed human rights violations and her role in the political crisis in the country. Her vice-presidency was disputed between 2019 and 2023. She managed to stabilize the Venezuelan economy after years of crisis and increase the country's oil production despite tougher US sanctions.
On 3 January 2026, Maduro was abducted by the United States in Operation Absolute Resolve, leaving Rodríguez as acting president of the country but making her future role in the government administration unclear. She later appeared on state television, where she said that Maduro was Venezuela's only president. Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to become acting president. She is the first woman to perform the duties associated with the president of Venezuela.
Early life
Rodríguez is the sister of Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, a psychiatrist serving as President of the National Assembly of Venezuela since 2021. Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a founder of the Socialist League, a Marxist political party in Venezuela. Her mother is Delcy Gómez. Rodríguez's father was murdered in 1976, while he was incarcerated and being tortured by the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services for his leadership role in the kidnapping of American executive and alleged CIA spy William Niehous.According to The Washington Post, a person who had held repeated conversations with Rodríguez stated that Rodríguez had lived in Santa Monica, California during her college years. Rodríguez graduated with a law degree from the Central University of Venezuela in 1993. During her time at UCV, Rodríguez was active as a student leader. She then studied labor law at Sorbonne University in Paris, but did not graduate. In her professional career, Rodríguez served as a professor at UCV. She was president of the union within the Venezuelan Association of Labor Lawyers.
Political career
Rodríguez became involved in national politics during the 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt. She has stated that her decision to enter politics was motivated by revenge for the death of her father while in the custody of pro-American intelligence agents. While in London during the crisis, she and her mother symbolically took over the Venezuelan Embassy in London to protest the de facto government of Pedro Carmona. From there, they coordinated interviews with international media, including the BBC and CNN, to denounce the rupture of the constitutional order. Rodríguez commenced her governmental career in 2003, joining the General Coordination of the Vice Presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. She subsequently became Director of International Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mines. In 2005, Rodríguez was appointed Vice-minister for European Affairs.From February to August 2006, Rodríguez was the Minister for Presidential Affairs. Her tenure was short-lived due to reported tensions with president Hugo Chávez. She reportedly refused to show the "personal homage" expected by the president. According to profiles published in Tal Cual and , Rodríguez disregarded established hierarchies and maintained a direct attitude that alienated her from the presidential inner circle. Travelling to an official visit to Moscow in 2006, it was reported that Rodríguez engaged in a heated argument with Chávez and swore at him; Chávez dismissed her, and she had to return immediately to Venezuela.
In 2007, Rodríguez served as the General Coordinator to the Vice-President of Venezuela, both of which roles she held while her brother occupied the office of Vice President of the Republic. In August 2013, President Nicolás Maduro appointed her as the Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information of Venezuela, a position in which she was reaffirmed in 2014 and maintained until October 2014.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In December 2014, President Maduro appointed Rodríguez as the Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Relations, also known as Chancellor, succeeding Rafael Ramírez Carreño. Rodríguez became the first woman to hold this position in Venezuela's history. In December 2015, in the absence of President Maduro, Rodríguez attended the 49th Summit of Mercosur heads of state in Asunción. During this summit, Rodríguez was involved in a dispute with the president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, who called for the prompt release of political prisoners in Venezuela. Rodríguez accused Macri of meddling in Venezuelan internal affairs, of endorsing political violence against Chavismo, and of criticizing Hebe de Bonafini, the head of Madres de Plaza de Mayo, for advocating peaceful protests against his government. Rodríguez accused Macri of releasing officials responsible for torture during Argentina's last military dictatorship and vetoing human rights laws, claims that the newspaper Clarín characterized as factual errors. President Maduro later praised Rodríguez publicly for metaphorically "sending Macri to the showers" during the summit.During the same summit, Rodríguez presented photographs depicting Leopoldo López and opposition protestors attacking public buildings. She said the images, sourced from news agencies, evidenced López's responsibility for "attacks against essential public services and Venezuelan universities". Rodríguez alleged Macri had released prisoners who were responsible for repression during the last military dictatorship in Argentina and had vetoed laws aimed at addressing unfair treatment, torture, and forced disappearances. These allegations were denied by the Argentine Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra, during a press conference. Malcorra stated that Rodríguez's accusations were incorrect and that President Macri deemed a response unnecessary. She criticized Rodríguez's remarks as overly aggressive and based on inaccurate information.
In 2016, Rodríguez accused Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States of "international bullying" because of his attempt to suspend Venezuela from the OAS. In March 2016, within the framework of an Organization of American States assembly, Rodríguez denounced a report published by Luis Almagro. She characterized the report as part of a "complex intervention strategy with medium and long-term consequences". Rodríguez informed the assembly that over 70% of Almagro's tweets were focused on criticizing the Venezuelan government and its citizens.
In June 2016, during the commemoration of the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo, President Maduro awarded Rodríguez the Military Order of National Defense, Commander Degree, First Class. This honor was bestowed upon her for "defending the interests of the nation in the face of attacks from the right". At the XXV Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, Rodríguez addressed the President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. In criticism, she asked for the president to "see more of the reality of the people of Latin America".
Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay convened to deliberate on the suspension of Venezuela from Mercosur. The trio expressed reservations regarding Venezuela's compliance with the prerequisites for full membership within the bloc, emphasizing the need for adherence to Mercosur's stipulations, particularly in the areas of trade, politics, democracy, and human rights. Concurrently, Argentina assumed the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur. Despite this, Venezuela did not acknowledge its suspension from the trading bloc and sought to continue its exercise of the pro tempore presidency until 30 December 2016.
In December 2016, after Venezuela was suspended from Mercosur, Rodríguez attempted to force her entry into a bloc meeting in Buenos Aires to which she had not been invited. Accompanied by Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca, she tried to enter the San Martín Palace but was blocked by riot police. Rodríguez claimed she was "struck" by police during the scuffle, and reports indicated a doctor had to immobilize her arm. Although she eventually gained access to the building, she found the meeting room empty as the other foreign ministers had decided to move their gathering to a different location.
In June 2017, Rodríguez vacated her role as Chancellor to stand as a candidate in the National Constituent Assembly elections held that year. Prior to her candidacy, she had been designated a member of the Presidential Commission for the Constituent Assembly. Before she left her position, President Maduro honored her on 22 June with the Saber Order of the Liberator Simón Bolívar of the Battle of Carabobo. She was succeeded by Samuel Moncada.
President of the Constituent Assembly
In July 2017, Rodríguez was elected as a deputy for Caracas to the National Constituent Assembly. Upon the ANC's establishment in August 2017, in the Federal Legislative Palace, she was chosen as its president. In January 2018, President Maduro announced Rodríguez as the president of a then-to-be-legalized political entity, the Somos Venezuela Movement. In February 2018, Rodríguez resigned from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and joined the ranks of the MSV, adhering to statutes prohibiting dual membership in political organizations within the country. In October 2018, she re-entered the PSUV as a member.Vice President
On 14 June 2018, President Maduro appointed Rodríguez as the Vice President of Venezuela, succeeding Tareck El Aissami. She also became the head official of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service, Venezuela's intelligence agency, as it is dependent on the office of the vice presidency. During Rodríguez's time as head of SEBIN, the United Nations found the agency had committed crimes against humanity with the intent of crushing political dissent. In December 2018, Rodríguez welcomed the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his official visit to Venezuela. In November 2022, she visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.Reporting from late 2025 suggests she established private communication channels with international intermediaries. Analysts point to a clandestine meeting on the island of
Bonaire in November 2025 as a pivotal moment where she reportedly
discussed "stabilization protocols" for Venezuela's energy sector in the
event of a power vacuum.
Minister of Economy and Finance
From 10 September 2020 to 27 August 2024, Rodríguez served as the Minister of Economy and Finance, having been appointed to this position by President Maduro. In July 2021, Rodríguez participated in the Annual Assembly of Fedecámaras, marking the first instance in two decades that a high-ranking official from the national executive attended this event, which convenes leaders from the country's main corporations. Rodríguez highlighted the significance of private sector engagement in unlocking Venezuela's productive capacity but urged the business community in attendance to refrain from political involvement. Fedecámaras has historically been viewed by Chavismo as part of the opposition, often being described as the "parasitic bourgeoisie".Capture of Nicolás Maduro and aftermath
On 3 January 2026, at approximately 2:00 AM VET, the United States carried out several strikes in Venezuela, including the capital of Caracas, and detained President Maduro and transported him to New York City. Vice President Rodríguez was granted presidential powers under Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which states that the vice president takes charge if there is a presidential vacancy. Rodríguez initially demanded proof that Maduro was still alive. US President Donald Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had made contact with Rodríguez and that she had been "sworn in" as president. Trump further stated that Rodríguez told Rubio that she would do "whatever the US asks", adding that she was gracious but "really doesn't have a choice".According to The New York Times, Vice President Rodríguez had earned the respect of American officials due to increasing Venezuela's oil production and stabilizing its economy, despite harsher US sanctions. Rodríguez has also gained a reputation among both Venezuelan and foreign business leaders as a technocrat. According to the Financial Times, Delcy Rodríguez's brother Jorge Rodríguez, had held talks with the United States government in 2025 to have his sister lead a post-Maduro transitional government, although those talks had included Maduro being allowed to go into exile instead of being captured. The Venezuelan military announced it would recognize Rodríguez as acting president and called for a return to normalcy. She also received a pledge of loyalty from Assemblyman Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the president's son.
Acting president of Venezuela (since 2026)
On 3 January, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to "assume and exercise, as acting president, all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation." Speaking at the European Commission, spokesperson Anitta Hipper announced on 5 January 2026 that the European Union does not recognize the legitimacy of Rodríguez as the country's acting head of government.First speech and inauguration
Appearing on Venezolana de Televisión, Rodríguez described Maduro as Venezuela's "only president" in contrast to Trump's statements. During the broadcast she called for calm and unity to defend the country while Maduro remained under US detention, and stated that Venezuela would never be the colony of any nation. Rodríguez also stated that "governments around the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones".Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president on 5 January 2026 by her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela. She announced a week of national mourning for the people killed during the American strike.
Restart of diplomatic relations with US
On 8 January, her government released nine foreign and Venezuelan political prisoners. Donald Trump announced that he had cancelled a second wave of attacks due to this gesture of cooperation. The United States and the Rodríguez government have begun discussions to restart diplomatic relations and to possibly reopen the United States embassy in Venezuela, closed since 2019.On 16 January, Rodríguez met with the United States Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe in Caracas to discuss cooperation, economic stability and actions against drug traffickers.
Sanctions
Rodríguez has been sanctioned by several countries. The government of neighboring Colombia included her on a list of people banned from entering Colombia, along with approximately 200 other Maduro regime supporters and associates. In September 2017, Canada sanctioned Rodríguez for her role in Venezuela's constitutional crisis. In June 2018, shortly after being named Vice President of Venezuela, Rodríguez was one of eleven Venezuelan officials sanctioned by the European Union, with her assets frozen and a travel ban issued against her for "undermin democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela".In April 2018, the Mexican Senate approved a Point of Agreement that, among other things, rejected the presidential elections scheduled for 20 May. The Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Rodríguez, and prohibited them from entering Mexico. In July 2018, Switzerland sanctioned Rodríguez, freezing her assets and imposing a travel ban, citing the same reasons as the European Union. In September 2018, the United States sanctioned Rodríguez for "corruption and humanitarian issues" by including her in OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
After her ascension to the interim presidency, her cabinet contacted the European Commission to request the lifting of sanctions placed on her by the European Union for allegedly persecuting the opposition and undermining the rule of law. The Commission has yet to respond.
Delcygate
In January 2020, a controversy emerged in Spain surrounding Rodríguez's presence at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain, where she was purported to have met with Spanish politician José Luis Ábalos. This incident sparked significant attention because, since November 2017, Rodríguez has been prohibited from entering the territory of the European Union. José Luis Ábalos denied having met Rodríguez.The incident took place on 20 January, when the aircraft bearing the registration TC-AKE and flying the Turkish flag arrived at the terminal. Upon recognizing Rodríguez among the passengers, Spanish authorities decided to prevent her entry into the country. Accompanying Rodríguez on the flight were Kenny Antonio Díaz, Alejandra Carolina Bastidas, Yussef Abou Nassif Smaili, Jorge Andrés Giménez, and minister Félix Plasencia.
The scandal originated from a covert visit by Delcy Rodríguez to Spain, during which she allegedly facilitated the fraudulent sale of 104 bars of Venezuelan gold to Spanish businessmen for $68.5 million. This transaction was purportedly conducted through the Spanish Ministry of Transport, with the involvement of then-Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, who is under investigation as part of the Koldo Case. According to reports by El Confidencial, Rodríguez offered these gold bars to Spanish entrepreneurs during meetings arranged with Ábalos, with the approval of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Guardia Civil's Central Operative Unit uncovered communications on Spanish businessman Víctor de Aldama's mobile phone that directly linked him to Rodríguez, indicating discussions about the purchase of Venezuelan gold. A contract dated 27 December 2019 outlined the delivery of the gold between 27 December 2019 and 6 January 2020, shortly before Rodríguez's secret trip to Madrid, which was officially described by La Moncloa as a "technical stopover".
According to the Diario de Cuba, this connection underscored the alleged lack of commitment by the Spanish government to support a democratic transition in Venezuela. A 2020 U.S. government official said Spain was a significant barrier within the European Union in confronting the Venezuelan government. The scandal also involved a strategic omission of the gold transaction details in the official invitation sent by Ábalos to Rodríguez, which instead focused on humanitarian aid and support for Spanish businesses in Venezuela. In response, the opposition Partido Popular accused Sánchez of deceit regarding the true purpose of Rodríguez's visit and declared intentions to launch a comprehensive political, judicial, and international campaign to uncover the truth behind Delcygate.
Criticism of foreign officials
During a 2017 meeting of the Organization of American States, Rodríguez accused some member states of interfering in Venezuela. She called the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, a "liar, dishonest, a criminal, and a mercenary, a traitor to everything that represents the dignity of a Latin American diplomat". Her remarks were criticised by Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa. In June 2017, Rodríguez criticised the President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, after Kuczynski proposed international intervention in Venezuela.Personal life
Rodríguez was the romantic partner of the Venezuelan actor and model Fernando Carrillo until 2007.Rodríguez is a follower of Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba.