In brief
In a controversial move, President Trump appointed Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President of Venezuela, as the interim leader following Nicolás Maduro's downfall, bypassing Nobel laureate María Corina Machado. This decision raises questions about priorities, as experts weigh the risks of supporting a regime figure against the chaos of potential opposition rule. The administration seems to favor stability over democratic processes, aiming to avoid a violent upheaval but raising concerns for the future of Venezuelan democracy.
Amid the many questions swirling since last weekend's dramatic events in Caracas – and there are many – one that refuses to go away centres on the bespectacled woman now leading what US officials are calling Venezuela's interim authorities.
Why Delcy?
What is it about Delcy Rodríguez, daughter of a former Marxist guerilla and deputy to ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro, that has caught the eye of the Trump administration?
And why has Washington decided on an avowed Chavista revolutionary to stay in power, rather than backing the opposition leader, María Corina Machado, whose opposition movement is widely believed to have won the 2024 presidential elections?
The answer, according to one former US ambassador to Venezuela, is simple.
They've gone for stability over democracy, says Charles Shapiro, who served as George W Bush's ambassador in Caracas from 2002-04.
But the alternative, involving wholesale regime change and backing Machado's opposition movement, would have involved other dangers, including potential infighting among opposition figures and the alienation of those Venezuelans – perhaps as many as 30% – who voted for Maduro.
Trump's Surprising Decision
In his dramatic press conference on Saturday morning, President Trump shocked many observers by dismissing the Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado as not respected inside Venezuela. The speed, and apparent ease, with which Maduro was removed and Rodríguez installed led some observers to speculate that the former vice president might have been in on the plan.
However, experts suggest this conclusion may overlook the realities of military and political power dynamics still at play in the country.
Recent assessments suggest that members of the Maduro regime, including Rodríguez, were in a better position to lead a temporary government. This pragmatism could signal a realism-infused approach by the Trump administration, which has historically favored regime change but may now prioritize stability in a chaotic geopolitical landscape.
As the administration looks towards the future, the challenges of rebuilding Venezuela remain significant, especially as calls for a democratic transition linger in the background amid immediate stabilization efforts.
