Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in this Monday as acting president of Venezuela before the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, and thus assumes the functions of head of state following the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, in a US military raid.
“I come with pain over the kidnapping of two heroes who are being held hostage in the United States of America: President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady of this country,” Rodríguez declared during the swearing-in ceremony, held in the Triptych Hall of the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas.
Rodríguez emphasized that she was attending the swearing-in ceremony “as the executive vice president of the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
The now former second-in-command of the Venezuelan government swore “by the people of Venezuela to work tirelessly to guarantee the peace of the Republic, the spiritual tranquility of our people, and the economic and social well-being of our people.”
“I swear on my honor that I will not rest until I see Venezuela reach its rightful destiny, on the pedestal of historical honor that it deserves,” she continued.
Following the usual formula, Jorge Rodríguez, Delcy Rodríguez’s brother, acknowledged the oath: “If you do so, may God, the homeland, and our people reward you. If not, may they hold you accountable,” and declared Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, her full name, invested as acting president.
