Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume office as acting president following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces.
The directive was issued on Saturday by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, which said the decision was taken to ensure continuity of governance amid what it described as the “forced absence” of the president.
According to the ruling, Rodríguez is to take over “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the Nation.”
The court added that it would convene further deliberations to determine the appropriate legal framework for managing the situation.
“The court will debate the matter in order to determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defence of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic,” the ruling stated.
Maduro was arrested early Saturday morning during an operation carried out by U.S. forces, an action that has sparked intense political and diplomatic reactions both within Venezuela and internationally.
The Supreme Court’s move effectively places Rodríguez in charge of the country’s executive authority pending further legal and political developments.
Meanwhile, Maduro has arrived in New York, United States, to stand trial on arms and drug trafficking charges.