Venezuela Swears in Interim President Amid Global Backlash
Caracas, Venezuela — January 26, 2026
Constitutional Crisis Deepens as Delcy Rodríguez Sworn In as Interim President Following Maduro’s Arrest
The political landscape of South America has been thrust into total uncertainty today as Delcy Rodríguez, the former Vice President, was officially sworn in as the Interim President of Venezuela.
This historic and controversial appointment, ratified by the Supreme Court, follows the dramatic arrest of Nicolás Maduro by United States military forces during “Operation Southern Spear.”
The move, which has sparked a wave of diplomatic protests from Moscow to Beijing, marks the first time in Venezuela’s modern history that a transition of power has occurred under direct foreign military intervention.
While the Supreme Court cited constitutional continuity to justify the swearing-in, opposition leaders and international observers are questioning the legitimacy of a government established in the shadow of foreign airstrikes.
Headlines
New Leadership:
Delcy Rodríguez becomes first female interim president amid a state of siege.
Legal Debate:
Supreme Court invokes Article 233, but observers warn of a “constitutional vacuum.”
Global Outcry:
African Union and Mercosur nations condemn the “military abduction” of the former head of state.
Security Lockdown:
Caracas remains under military curfew as Rodríguez calls for “national unity” against foreign interference.
The swearing-in of Rodríguez took place in a heavily fortified ceremony, far from the public eye, as the capital remains reeling from the previous hours’ bombardment.
In her first address to the nation, President Rodríguez characterized the arrest of Maduro as a “kidnapping of the sovereign will” and called for an immediate cessation of US military activities.
For the Castle Journal, this represents a watershed moment in “World Leadership Governance.” The central question now is whether Rodríguez can maintain the loyalty of the military—a force long-beholden to Maduro—or if the country will fracture into rival factions.
International reaction has been swift and divided. While the Trump administration has characterized the intervention as a “liberation,” several European and Latin American nations have expressed grave concerns over the precedent of removing a sitting head of state through direct military action.
The United Nations Security Council, currently under the presidency of Somalia, is facing intense pressure to pass a resolution demanding a return to civilian-led, democratic processes without foreign coercion.
On the streets of Caracas, the mood is one of “armed peace.” Pro-government militias, or Colectivos, have remained largely silent following the initial strikes, but there are growing reports of localized clashes between security forces and protesters who see the transition as a continuation of the old regime.
Rodríguez now faces the impossible task of managing a collapsing economy, a foreign military presence, and a population divided between those who demand total revolution and those who fear a protracted civil war.
The CJ exclusive department is currently tracking reports of “secretive negotiations” between the new interim government and regional partners aimed at securing a diplomatic corridor for the safe return of political detainees.
We will continue to provide depth to this story as the new administration attempts to consolidate power.
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