Delsey Rodríguez, Between Regime Survival and Transition

The vice president took power in Maduro's "removal" and is the person who should manage Chavismo's relationship with Trump.

Delsey Rodríguez, Between Regime Survival and Transition

The vice president takes power amid Maduro's "enforced absence" and is the person to manage Chavismo's relationship with Trump

The one female figure that focused all eyes and speculation in the hours after Nicolás Maduro's capture does not belong to María Corina Machado.The powerful vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, is playing a more central role than ever in the restructuring of Chavista power in these critical hours when Donald Trump has managed to decapitate the regime.

For the time being, 56-year-old Rodríguez took power in the country.Venezuela's Supreme Judicial Court on Friday afternoon declared the "temporary absence" of Nicolás Maduro and ordered Delsey Rodríguez to assume the presidency due to the "forced absence of the president."For up to 90 days, he will be replaced by the vice-president, which can be extended by another 90 days by decision of the NR SR.

"Delsey is the key," said a source familiar with Venezuelan internal affairs."He's going to be smart and savvy," he said.In a scenario of cross-information, propaganda and fake news, every hour counts.No one dares to say what will happen in the next few days, or even the next few hours, but no one doubts that it will happen one way or another for the Chavista leader.The daughter of a Marxist leader who was killed in prison in 1976, Rodríguez grew up in a male-dominated apparatus that sought to assert itself through its ability to engage in dialogue with economic elites and foreign actors.

Trump, who confirmed that the opponent María Corina Machado does not have "respect" and enough support to lead this difficult period, said that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had a "long conversation" with Rodríguez.According to Republicans, Rodríguez committed to Washington."I think he had nothing to do," he said.

On the other hand, he took the stage hours after the attack to draw a red line: the country will not be colonized and Nicolás Maduro will remain the only president.Between public signals of resolve and unseen negotiations, Rodriguez is in a decisive position today, between the regime's continuation and its end after nearly three decades in power.

Delsey Rodríguez has been referred to as a moderate in government, but that may not be the most accurate description of him.Yes, he, unlike other comrades in the ranks, is a Chavista figure capable of avoiding US-supervised change, according to analysts."They will try to stabilize under the supervision of Delsey, who they consider very Chavista, but also intelligent and with the ability to negotiate. And from there a transition that is not yet defined," he said.

Reading about similar events also introduces nuances and contradictions."President Trump's statements make it clear that removing Nicolás Maduro from power is not Washington's ultimate goal," says Renata Segura, the International Crisis Group's program director for Latin America and the Caribbean."The announcement that the United States will now 'rule Venezuela' and take control of the oil industry shows Washington's intention to stay involved in the country for the long term," Segura argues.And once again, uncertainty in the short, medium and long term: "The next few hours will be essential to determine whether Vice President Delsy Rodriguez or other members of the Chavista movement will remain in power in agreement with Washington and whether there will be a fracture in the regime."

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