Jan 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro - praised by President Donald Trump as stunning and powerful - leaves behind uncertainty about who is running the oil-rich country.
Trump said on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, part of the powerful cabal at the top of the country’s government, had been sworn in after Maduro’s arrest and that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leading to speculation that she would take the reins.
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 Defense 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.
