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Crisis-hit country’s path to elections is unclear after Maduro’s removal
The Straits Times
|January 06, 2026
The US capture of President Nicolas Maduro has upended Venezuela’s socialist leadership, raising questions about whether Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez can take charge without triggering new elections, just as a new National Assembly takes over on Jan 5.
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The complexities of having a president suddenly whisked away to another country are now colliding with the intricacies of Venezuelan law and the political calculus for Ms Rodriguez, who is trying to keep Maduro’s other lieutenants aligned while also managing how the US relationship will evolve.
Turmoil erupted hours after US President Donald Trump stunned allies and adversaries by saying the US planned to “run” Venezuela - a declaration that came with few details about what it would mean for the oil-producing nation of roughly 30 million people.
By then, Maduro was already an indicted prisoner and in transit to New York, and Ms Rodriguez had denounced the intervention as a “barbaric” kidnapping, even as Mr Trump said she would partner Washington to “make Venezuela great again”.
This story is from the January 06, 2026 edition of The Straits Times.
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