Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has directed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take over as acting president after President Nicolás Maduro was captured by United States forces.
The ruling was delivered by the Constitutional Chamber and publicly announced by its president, Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez, during a broadcast on state television network Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
According to the court, Maduro’s capture constitutes an exceptional situation that renders him temporarily and materially unable to carry out his constitutional duties. As a result, the tribunal ordered that the executive vice president immediately assume all powers, responsibilities and functions of the presidency in an acting capacity to ensure continuity of governance and national defense.
The Constitutional Chamber said the circumstances amount to extraordinary conditions and force majeure—situations not expressly provided for in the constitution but serious enough to endanger state stability, national security and the uninterrupted functioning of government institutions.
To address the crisis, the court adopted what it described as an urgent and precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the operations of the Venezuelan state.
Following the announcement, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement formally recognizing Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s interim president.
“We recognize Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the acting president of Venezuela, given the absence of President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently being held in the United States,” the statement said.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were reportedly seized during a surprise pre-dawn operation by US special forces in Caracas. The raid allegedly took place at their residence within the highly secured Fort Tiuna military complex.
On January 3, 2026, the United States carried out what it described as an unprecedented military operation against Venezuela, with the Trump administration saying the action was aimed at arresting Maduro and transferring him to the US to face charges.
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