Belarusian MFA: Venezuelan government to be led by VP Delcy Rodríguez

The government of Venezuela will be led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in accordance with the country's Constitution following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on January 3.

The announcement came after a phone call between Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov and his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil Pinto, which was initiated by the Belarusian side, Caliber.Az reports. 

During the conversation, Ryzhenkov expressed support for Venezuela’s government, emphasising the preservation of national sovereignty, the legitimacy of the elected leadership, and Caracas’ initiatives in international organisations. Pinto, in turn, briefed Ryzhenkov on US military strikes targeting both military and civilian facilities in Venezuela, as well as the current situation in the country.

The developments come amid reports of President Maduro’s capture by US, raising questions about the country’s political future. According to CNN, several scenarios are being considered:

Constitutional succession: Under Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, in the “absolute absence” of the president, the executive vice president  – Delcy Rodriguez – assumes control and must call a presidential election within 30 days. The winner would serve a full six-year term.

Opposition leadership: If the regime collapses and senior figures resign or flee, opposition figures could take charge. Edmundo González Urrutia, a 2024 presidential candidate currently in exile in Spain, is considered a leading contender. He has the backing of María Corina Machado, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist.

Military intervention: Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, has vowed to resist foreign military intervention, leaving open the possibility of a military-led transition.

By Sabina Mammadli