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
-
Israel pounds Beirut suburbs after Hezbollah launches rocket barrage
12 minutes -
Bank of Africa donates to National Chief Imam’s office to support Ramadan
18 minutes -
Communications Minister Launches iCOLMS-GH to streamline courier sector, gives operators 19-day compliance deadline
43 minutes -
Prudential Ghana agent earns multiple honours locally and Africa
46 minutes -
Vote for a competent, grassroots person as organiser to help NPP reclaim power – Ali Maiga Halidu
49 minutes -
25 MDAs sign data-sharing pact with Ghana Statistical Service
55 minutes -
Legacy Girls’ College celebrates national recognition of two students at 2025 WASSCE
1 hour -
Oil price jumps despite deal to release record amount of reserves
1 hour -
Sahara Group commissions 40,000cbm Asharami Ghana LPG vessel to advance clean energy access in Ghana
1 hour -
Ghana’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire marks 69th independence day with call to ‘build prosperity and restore hope’
1 hour -
COCOBOD to distribute 27,000 sprayers and 89,000 PPE sets to cocoa farmers
1 hour -
Ntim Fordjour accuses NDC of ‘double standards’ over presidential travel
2 hours -
Israel–Iran war shakes global insurance industry; Ghana may face heavy impact – Dr Kingsley Agyemang
2 hours -
DJ Mensah calls for national support for Rapperholic UK as Sarkodie eyes O2 Arena
2 hours -
COCOBOD disburses GH¢4.2bn to Licensed Buying Companies to settle cocoa farmers’ arrears
2 hours
