Venezuela swears in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president after US seizes Maduro

Parliament backs Rodriguez as protests erupt and Maduro pleads not guilty to drug charges in New York court

Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, January 5, two days after US forces seized her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, to face trial in New York. Rodriguez, who has indicated she will cooperate with Washington, took the oath of office during a ceremony in the National Assembly, telling lawmakers she was doing so "in the name of all Venezuelans."

She said she was "in pain over the kidnapping of our heroes, the hostages in the United States," referring to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who face drug charges in New York with other Venezuelan officials. Parliament denounced the capture of leftist leader Maduro while vowing support for his stand-in, Rodriguez, after the US military attack that shocked Caracas and the world.

Outside the legislature, thousands of Venezuelans gathered to demand the release of their leader, chanting: "Maduro, hold on: Venezuela is rising!"

"Regardless of whether Nicolas Maduro has something to answer for in court, this was not the way to do it," protestor Flur Alberto, 32, told AFP.

Inside, meanwhile, members of the National Assembly offered their full backing to Rodriguez, who had been Maduro's vice president, and reelected her brother Jorge Rodriguez as parliament speaker. As Monday's session opened, lawmakers chanted: "Let's go, Nico!" – a slogan of Maduro's presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 elections that were widely denounced by the opposition and dozens of global capitals, including Washington, as fraudulent.

On President Donald Trump's orders, US military forces early Saturday launched strikes on the Venezuelan capital and seized Maduro and his wife, flying them to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.

Read: Maduro pleads not guilty in NY court

"The president of the United States, Mr Trump, claims to be the prosecutor, the judge, and the policeman of the world," senior lawmaker Fernando Soto Rojas said in an address to colleagues. "We say: you will not succeed. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores," the presidential palace, he added.

Witnesses reported gunfire late Monday near Miraflores Palace, the seat of government. A source close to the administration said unidentified drones flew over the complex and security forces opened fire in response, adding the situation was under control.

Maduro, 63, appeared in federal court in Manhattan wearing prison garb and listened to the indictment through headphones. He pleaded innocent to four counts, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro said through an interpreter before being cut off by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The next court date was set for March 17.

Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups, including Mexico's Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels, and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang. Maduro has consistently denied the allegations.