Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, the Leader Who Replaced Maduro in Venezuela?

New York Times - WorldEN 3 min read 100% complete by Ali Watkins and Victor MatherJanuary 5, 2026 at 05:41 PM

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Following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime political confidante, became Venezuela's interim leader. The Venezuelan Supreme Court declared her acting president after Maduro's removal. Rodríguez, 56, has Marxist roots and entered Venezuelan politics after the 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez. She rose through government ranks under both Chávez and Maduro, holding positions such as communication minister, foreign affairs minister, and vice president. She also took on responsibility for the country's finances as the economy minister. While she has fostered a shift towards a more free-market economy and protected the oil industry, Venezuela continues to struggle with hyperinflation. She now faces the challenge of navigating relations with the U.S. and a distrustful Venezuelan public.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London 30% Pedro Carmona Estanga 30% Venezuelan Supreme Court 40% Caracas 40% Vladimir Padrino López 50% Hugo Chávez ×250% Trump administration ×260% United States ×270% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×470% Venezuela ×890% Delcy Rodríguez ×990%

Keywords

venezuela 100% delcy rodríguez 100% nicolás maduro 90% interim leader 80% political operator 70% economic policy 60% trump administration 50% u.s. influence 50% socialist economy 40% oil industry 40%