Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuela’s Supreme Court has issued a ruling appointing Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez Gómez as acting president, assuming all presidential powers. This move aims to fill the constitutional void created by recent events.
“Forced absence” and the legitimacy of the decision
The court explained in its statement that this decision was made to ensure the continued functioning of state institutions and to defend the country. This came in light of what it described as the “forced absence” of the constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro. The Constitutional Chamber considered the current situation to fall under a state of “material and temporal impossibility.” This situation prevents the president from exercising his duties, a consequence of what it termed the “abduction of President Maduro.”
Constitutional basis
The court based its ruling on an interpretation of the following constitutional articles. Article 234 pertains to the temporary absence of the president. Article 239 grants the vice president the authority to assume the president’s duties to ensure the continuity of government.
The court affirmed its exclusive and final jurisdiction to review and interpret constitutional texts in a way that preserves national sovereignty at this “crucial” stage.
Immediate measures and military movements
In response to what it described as “an urgent necessity and a confirmed threat,” the court ordered that the following entities be notified immediately of the appointment: the acting Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez; the High Command of the Armed Forces to ensure loyalty and maintain security; and the National Assembly (Parliament).
Context of the crisis
This decision comes after reports of President Maduro’s “military arrest,” which legal experts (such as Mamdani) have described as an “act of war” and a blatant violation of international law. The court emphasized that its actions are a precautionary measure. The aim is to counter what it called “foreign aggression” and ensure the unity of the Venezuelan state.
