Overview
- The Supreme Tribunal’s Constitutional Chamber directed Rodríguez to act as president to ensure state continuity, citing Article 335 and an interpretation of Articles 234 and 239 for an “exceptional” forced absence.
- Rodríguez led a National Defense Council session, demanded the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, and stated there is “only one president,” declining to declare herself in charge on state TV.
- U.S. forces carried out the operation that detained Maduro and his wife, with reports of strikes in Caracas, Aragua and La Guaira, and news outlets report Maduro is in U.S. custody to face criminal charges.
- President Donald Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Rodríguez and that she signaled willingness to cooperate, a claim at odds with her public rejection of a transition.
- The court stopped short of declaring a falta absoluta, leaving open questions about the duration of Rodríguez’s role and any election timeline as control and international recognition remain contested.