Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (born 18 May 1969) is a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who is the acting president of Venezuela after the U.S. capturing of Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026. She has also served as the vice president of Venezuela since 2018. Rodríguez has held several positions during the presidencies of Hugo Chávez and Maduro. She was Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information of Venezuela from 2013 to 2014, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017, President of the Constituent Assembly of Venezuela from 2017 to 2018 and Minister of Petroleum from 2024 to 2025. She is a member of the national leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The European Union, the United States and Canada have placed sanctions on her for what they said were human rights violations and her role in the political crisis in the country. Her vice-presidency was disputed between 2019 and 2023. She managed to stabilize the Venezuelan economy after years of crisis and increase the country's oil production despite tougher US sanctions. On 3 January 2026, Maduro was abducted in a US operation, leaving Rodríguez as acting president of the country but making her future role in the government administration unclear. She later appeared on state television, claiming that Maduro is Venezuela's only president. Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to become acting president. == Early years == Rodríguez is the sister of Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, a psychiatrist serving as President of the National Assembly of Venezuela. Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a founder of the Socialist League, a Marxist political party in Venezuela. Her mother is Delcy Gómez. Rodríguez's father was murdered in 1976, while he was incarcerated and being tortured by the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP) for his leadership role in the kidnapping of American executive William Niehous. Rodríguez graduated with a law degree from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) in 1993. During her time at UCV, Rodríguez was active as a student leader. She specialized in labor law in Paris, but did not graduate. In her professional career, Rodríguez served as a professor at the Central University of Venezuela. She was president of the union within the Venezuelan Association of Labor Lawyers. == Political career == Rodríguez became involved in national politics during the 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt. While in London during the crisis, she and her mother symbolically took over the Venezuelan Embassy in London to protest the de facto government of Pedro Carmona. From there, they coordinated interviews with international media, including the BBC and CNN, to denounce the rupture of the constitutional order. Rodríguez commenced her governmental career in 2003, joining the General Coordination of the Vice Presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. She subsequently became Director of International Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mines. In 2005, Rodríguez was appointed Vice-minister for European Affairs. From February to August 2006, Rodríguez was the Minister for Presidential Affairs. Her tenure was short-lived due to reported tensions with president Hugo Chávez. She reportedly refused to show the "personal homage" expected by the president. According to profiles published in Tal Cual and El Estímulo, Rodríguez disregarded established hierarchies and maintained a direct attitude that alienated her from the presidential inner circle. During an official trip to Moscow in 2006, Rodríguez allegedly engaged in a heated argument with Chávez in which she used disrespectful language. Following the altercation, Chávez reportedly ordered her removal from the delegation and her immediate return to Venezuela on a separate plane. In 2007, she served as the General Coordinator to the Vice-President of Venezuela, both of which roles she held while her brother occupied the office of Vice President of the Republic. In August 2013, President Nicolás Maduro appointed her as the Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information of Venezuela, a position in which she was reaffirmed in 2014 and maintained until October 2014. === Minister of Foreign Affairs === In December 2014, President Nicolás Maduro appointed Rodríguez as the Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Relations, also known as Chancellor, succeeding Rafael Ramírez Carreño. Rodríguez became the first woman to hold this position in Venezuela's history. In December 2015, in the absence of president Nicolás Maduro, Rodríguez attended the 49th Summit of Mercosur heads of state in Asunción. During this summit, Rodríguez was involved in a dispute with the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, who called for the prompt release of political prisoners in Venezuela. Rodríguez accused Macri of meddling in Venezuelan internal affairs, of endorsing political violence against Chavismo, and of criticizing Hebe de Bonafini, the head of Madres de Plaza de Mayo, for advocating peaceful protests against his government. Rodríguez accused Macri of releasing officials responsible for torture during Argentina's last military dictatorship and vetoing human rights laws, claims that the newspaper Clarín characterized as factual errors. President Maduro later praised Rodríguez publicly for metaphorically "sending Macri to the showers" during the summit. During the same summit, Rodríguez presented photographs depicting Leopoldo López and opposition protestors attacking public buildings. She said the images, sourced from news agencies, evidenced López's responsibility for "attacks against essential public services and Venezuelan universities". Rodríguez alleged Macri had released prisoners who were responsible for repression during the last military dictatorship in Argentina and had vetoed laws aimed at addressing unfair treatment, torture, and forced disappearances. These allegations were denied by the Argentine Foreign Minister, Susana Malcorra, during a press conference. Malcorra stated that Rodríguez's accusations were incorrect and that President Macri deemed a response unnecessary. She criticized Rodríguez's remarks as overly aggressive and based on inaccurate information. In 2016, Rodríguez accused Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) of "international bullying" because of his attempt to suspend Venezuela from the OAS. In March 2016, within the framework of an Organization of American States (OAS) assembly, Rodríguez denounced a report recently published by Luis Almagro. She characterized the report as part of a "complex intervention strategy with medium and long-term consequences". Rodríguez informed the assembly that over 70% of Almagro's tweets were focused on criticizing the Venezuelan government and its citizens. In June 2016, during the commemoration of the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo, President Nicolás Maduro awarded Rodríguez the Military Order of National Defense, Commander Degree, First Class. This honor was bestowed upon her for "defending the interests of the nation in the face of attacks from the right". In December 2016, Rodríguez received the Order of Liberators and Liberators of Venezuela, First Class, in recognition of her efforts to "bring the truth of Venezuela to the world with honor and love." At the XXV Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, Rodríguez addressed the President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. In criticism, she asked for the president to "see more of the reality of the people of Latin America". Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay convened to deliberate on the suspension of Venezuela from Mercosur. The trio expressed reservations regarding Venezuela's compliance with the prerequisites for full membership within the bloc, emphasizing the need for adherence to Mercosur's stipulations, particularly in the areas of trade, politics, democracy, and human rights. Concurrently, Argentina assumed the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur. Despite this, Venezuela did not acknowledge its suspension from the trading bloc and sought to continue its exercise of the pro tempore presidency until 30 December 2016. In December 2016, after Venezuela was suspended from Mercosur, Rodríguez attempted to force her entry into a bloc meeting in Buenos Aires to which she had not been invited. Accompanied by Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca, she tried to enter the San Martín Palace but was blocked by riot police. Rodríguez claimed she was "struck" by police during the scuffle, and reports indicated a doctor had to immobilize her arm. Although she eventually gained access to the building, she found the meeting room empty as the other foreign ministers had decided to move their gathering to a different location. In June 2017, Rodríguez vacated her role as Chancellor to stand as a candidate in the National Constituent Assembly elections held that year. Prior to her candidacy, she had been designated a member of the Presidential Commission for the Constituent Assembly. Before she left her position, on 22 June, President Nicolás Maduro honored her with the Saber Order of the Liberator Simón Bolívar of the Battle of Carabobo. She was succeeded by Samuel Moncada. === President of the Constituent Assembly === In July 2017, Rodríguez was elected as a deputy for Caracas to the National Constituent Assembly (ANC). Upon the ANC's establishment in August 2017, in the Federal Legislative Palace, she was chosen as its president. In January 2018, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Rodríguez as the president of a then-to-be-legalized political entity, the Somos Venezuela Movement (MSV). In February 2018, Rodríguez resigned from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and joined the ranks of the MSV, adhering to statutes prohibiting dual membership in political organizations within the country. In October 2018, she re-entered the PSUV as a member. === Vice President === On 14 June 2018, President Maduro appointed Rodríguez as the Vice President of Venezuela, succeeding Tareck El Aissami. She also became the head official of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), Venezuela's intelligence agency, as it is dependent on the office of the vice presidency. In December 2018, Rodríguez welcomed the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during his official visit to Venezuela. In November 2022, she visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. === Minister of Economy and Finance === Since 10 September 2020, Rodríguez has served as the Minister of Popular Power for Economy and Finance of Venezuela, having been appointed to this position by President Nicolás Maduro. In July 2021, Rodríguez participated in the Annual Assembly of Fedecámaras, marking the first instance in two decades that a high-ranking official from the national executive attended this event, which convenes leaders from the country's main corporations. Rodríguez highlighted the significance of private sector engagement in unlocking Venezuela's productive capacity but urged the business community in attendance to refrain from political involvement. Fedecámaras has historically been viewed by Chavismo as part of the opposition, often being described as the "parasitic bourgeoisie." === Capture of Nicolás Maduro and aftermath === On 3 January 2026, at approximately 2:00 AM VET, the United States carried out several strikes in Venezuela, including the capital of Caracas, and detained and abducted President Nicolás Maduro. Vice President Rodríguez was granted presidential powers under Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which states that the vice president takes charge if there is a presidential vacancy. Rodríguez initially demanded proof that Maduro was still alive. US president Donald Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had made contact with Rodríguez and that she had been "sworn in" as president. Trump further stated that Rodríguez told Rubio that she would do "whatever the US asks", adding that she was gracious but "really doesn't have a choice". == Acting President of Venezuela (2026–present) == On 4 January, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Rodríguez to "assume and exercise, as acting president, all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the nation." === First speech === Appearing on Venezuelan state television, in contrast to Trump's statements, Rodriguez described Maduro as Venezuela's "only president". She called for calm and unity to defend the country while Maduro remained under US detention. She stated that Venezuela would never ‌be the colony of any nation. Rodríguez also claimed that the operation contains "Zionist undertones", stating that "Governments around the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones." == Sanctions == Rodríguez has been sanctioned by several countries. The government of neighboring Colombia included her on a list of people banned from entering Colombia, along with (as of 2019) approximately 200 other Maduro regime supporters and associates. In September 2017, Canada sanctioned Rodríguez for her role in Venezuela's constitutional crisis. In June 2018, shortly after being named Vice President of Venezuela, Rodríguez was one of eleven Venezuelan officials sanctioned by the European Union, with her assets frozen and a travel ban issued against her for "undermin[ing] democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela." In April 2018, the Mexican Senate approved a Point of Agreement that, among other things, rejected the presidential elections scheduled for 20 May. The Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Rodríguez, and prohibited them from entering Mexico. In July 2018, Switzerland sanctioned Rodríguez, freezing her assets and imposing a travel ban, citing the same reasons as the European Union. In September 2018, the United States sanctioned Rodríguez for "corruption and humanitarian issues" by including her in OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. === Delcygate === In January 2020, a controversy emerged in Spain surrounding Rodríguez's presence at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain, where she was purported to have met with Spanish politician José Luis Ábalos. This incident sparked significant attention because, since November 2017, Rodríguez has been prohibited from entering the territory of the European Union. José Luis Ábalos denied having met Rodríguez. The incident took place on 20 January, when the aircraft bearing the registration TC-AKE and flying the Turkish flag arrived at the terminal. Upon recognizing Rodríguez among the passengers, Spanish authorities decided to prevent her entry into the country. Accompanying Rodríguez on the flight were Kenny Antonio Díaz, Alejandra Carolina Bastidas, Yussef Abou Nassif Smaili (her partner), Jorge Andrés Giménez (the current president of the Venezuelan Football Federation), and Minister Félix Plasencia. The scandal originated from a covert visit by Delcy Rodríguez to Spain, during which she allegedly facilitated the fraudulent sale of 104 bars of Venezuelan gold to Spanish businessmen for $68.5 million.This transaction was purportedly conducted through the Spanish Ministry of Transport, with the involvement of then-Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, who is currently under investigation. According to reports by El Confidencial, Rodríguez offered these gold bars to Spanish entrepreneurs during meetings arranged with Ábalos, with the approval of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) uncovered communications on Spanish businessman Víctor de Aldama's mobile phone that directly linked him to Rodríguez, indicating discussions about the purchase of Venezuelan gold. A contract dated 27 December 2019 outlined the delivery of the gold between 27 December 2019 and 6 January 2020, shortly before Rodríguez's secret trip to Madrid, which was officially described by La Moncloa as a "technical stopover." According to the Diario de Cuba, this connection underscored the alleged lack of commitment by the Spanish government to support a democratic transition in Venezuela. A 2020 U.S. government official said Spain was a significant barrier within the European Union in confronting the Venezuelan government. The scandal also involved a strategic omission of the gold transaction details in the official invitation sent by Ábalos to Rodríguez, which instead focused on humanitarian aid and support for Spanish businesses in Venezuela. In response, the opposition Partido Popular accused Sánchez of deceit regarding the true purpose of Rodríguez's visit and declared intentions to launch a comprehensive political, judicial, and international campaign to uncover the truth behind Delcygate. === Criticism of foreign officials === During a 2017 meeting of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Rodríguez accused some member states of interfering in Venezuela. She called the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro a "liar, dishonest, a criminal, and a mercenary, a traitor to everything that represents the dignity of a Latin American diplomat". Her remarks were criticised by Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa. In June 2017, Rodriguez criticised the President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski after Kuczynski proposed international intervention in Venezuela. == Personal life == Rodriguez was the romantic partner of the Venezuelan actor and model Fernando Carrillo until 2007. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, is president of the National Assembly of Venezuela. == See also == List of elected and appointed female state leaders List of ministers of foreign affairs of Venezuela List of current foreign ministers List of foreign ministers in 2017 List of female foreign ministers == References == == Notes == == External links == "Venezuela sanctions". Government of Canada. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.