Audio By Carbonatix
The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early Saturday morning in an operation by U.S. forces.
The court ruling said that Rodríguez would assume "the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the Nation."
Under Venezuela's constitution, Rodriguez becomes acting president in Maduro's absence, and the country's top court ordered her to assume the role late Saturday night.
But shortly after Trump's remarks, Rodriguez appeared on state television flanked by her brother, the head of the national assembly Jorge Rodriguez, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and said that Maduro remained Venezuela's only president.
The joint appearance indicated the group that shared power with Maduro is staying united - for now.
Trump publicly closed the door Saturday on working with opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, widely seen as Maduro's most credible opponent, saying she doesn't have support inside the country.
The ruling added that the court will debate the matter to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defence of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic."
Latest Stories
-
GoldBod summons 6 gold service providers over compliance exercise
14 minutes -
Power disruption expected in parts of Accra West as ECG conducts maintenance
17 minutes -
Police investigate alleged arson attack at Alpha Hour Church
48 minutes -
Heavy Sunday downpour wrecks Denyaseman SHS, schools, communities in Bekwai Municipality
49 minutes -
Ridge Hospital is in critical condition – GMTF Boss appeals to corporate Ghana
1 hour -
Introduce long term measures to tackle challenges in cocoa sector – IERPP to government
1 hour -
Agricultural Economist proposes blended financing model to support cocoa sector
2 hours -
NPP MP warns against reducing producer price as government rolls out cocoa reforms
2 hours -
Tano North MP urges halt to grain exports over food glut
2 hours -
Farmers hopeful as government moves to expedite cocoa payments
3 hours -
Tensions at Agbogbloshie market women oppose AMA drain cleaning exercise, items confiscated
3 hours -
Lyse Doucet: In Tehran, rallies for Iran’s revolution overshadowed by discontent and defiance
3 hours -
Education Minister orders full audit of free sanitary pads in schools over quality concerns
3 hours -
IGP promotes 12,000 police officers, clears all backlog
3 hours -
Buduburam firefighters prevent gas explosion at Big Apple
3 hours
