In Venezuela, much of the choreography of power looks exactly the same as it did before Nicolás Maduro was captured by US Special Forces.
Delcy Rodríguez, his former vice-president, smoothly assumed the role of interim president. She led meetings with high-ranking authorities, received international envoys, hosted the press at the Miraflores Palace and had private meetings with diplomats.
But beneath this appearance of continuity, the bedrock of Chavismo — Venezuela’s version of socialism — begins to shift as Rodríguez moves quickly to consolidate his authority and unite the fragmented governing coalition.
Changes in government
There are some subtle changes. Rodríguez’s days start earlier, his public statements are much more concise and the marathon speeches that marked the Maduro government have disappeared. Civil servants are now allowed to return to X.
Other measures are much more consequential, including a reshuffle of the cabinet and security apparatus, as well as the release of dozens of political prisoners. Decisions about senior positions have been received positively by the Trump administration, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive deliberations.
Venezuela’s Ministry of Information and the US State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
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“She is walking a tightrope, trying to please the United States while at the same time trying to keep Chavismo united,” said David Smilde, a professor and expert on Venezuela at Tulane University. “So far, she has succeeded,” and President Donald Trump “seems quite pleased.”
Delcy received support
Public signs of support followed. On Tuesday, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the deposed president’s son and a sitting congressman, told government supporters in Caracas that he had received messages from his father and stepmother, Cilia Flores, expressing confidence in Rodríguez and the team now leading the country.
Supporters at another rally on Wednesday chanted: “Delcy, move on, you have our trust.” The slogan was repeated in a state television advertisement showing an animated image of Rodríguez.
Just three days after Maduro’s capture, Rodríguez promoted central bank president Calixto Ortega Sánchez to vice president of the Ministry of Economy, a more powerful position that coordinates the government’s broader economic strategy across multiple ministries. She also appointed Gustavo González López, a former interior minister, to head the Presidential Honor Guard, replacing Javier Marcano Tábata, following internal criticism that the unit failed to prevent Maduro’s arrest.
Rodríguez appointed deputy Juan Escalona, a close ally of Maduro, as minister of the Presidency and oversight of government management. This is a crucial position, which acts as the president’s main link with the entire Executive Branch and helps drive the implementation of policies. Escalona replaces Aníbal Coronado, who was reassigned to the Environment portfolio.
What’s to come
Other changes are still expected, according to people familiar with its plans. Positions at state energy company Petróleos de Venezuela SA and the Oil Ministry are under review, these sources said. Rodríguez continues to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum.
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She must also bring back longtime allies to key posts. Félix Plasencia, who attended a meeting Friday with Trump administration officials in Washington, is being considered for the role of Venezuela’s foreign minister or ambassador to the United States as the relationship between the two countries improves, according to people familiar with the plans.
Two influential but low-key economists from Ecuador — Patricio Rivera and Fausto Herrera — who have advised Rodríguez since at least 2019 are also playing central roles in the interim government, the sources said. Both men, who serve as key interlocutors with creditors and investors, previously worked for their country’s former president, Rafael Correa, Maduro’s socialist colleague.
Rodríguez is also expected to remove figures with whom he has long-standing conflicts, including Alex Saab, the Colombian businessman and trusted ally of Maduro who currently oversees the area of national industry and production, according to the sources.
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When the situation stabilizes, changes in the Armed Forces may follow. Speculation about the possible retirement of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino has resurfaced since Maduro’s removal, raising the prospect of new upheavals at the highest military levels. The U.S. has offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Padrino’s arrest or capture.
For now, Rodríguez publicly discloses his meetings with Padrino, saying they discuss plans “to continue preserving peace” and thanking the Armed Forces for their “commitment to defending the calm and stability of Venezuela.”
Release of prisoners
The policy changes come as the government continues to release prisoners, in a process celebrated by Trump. Both Rodríguez and his brother, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, said earlier this week that the releases will continue, under the leadership of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.
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As of Wednesday, 406 people had been released, including 194 released in December under Maduro, said Delcy Rodríguez. Of the nearly 200 inmates expected to be released this month, independent organizations have so far confirmed only about half, including U.S. citizens and other foreigners. Cabello had reportedly personally handed over several high-profile international prisoners, according to one of the sources.
Loyalty and unity
Rodríguez and Cabello have long had a tense relationship, but the two have demonstrated alignment in private meetings, the sources said. Cabello publicly declared loyalty to Rodríguez early on and has frequently appeared alongside the interim president and her brother in a show of unity.
Cabello, a hard-line Chavista power broker, appears to have beefed up his personal security. His two television programs since the US operation were recorded outside his usual studio, and state TV delayed the broadcast of some of his press conferences — measures that the deposed president himself adopted in the months leading up to his capture. The US offered a $25 million reward for Cabello.
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Behind the scenes, party leaders were given clear instructions. “Unity is the first thing that must be preserved,” some officials reportedly heard during a private meeting held days after Maduro’s capture, according to a leaked memo seen by Bloomberg News.
So far, that message has shaped the image that Rodríguez’s government projects.
She is “trying to prioritize unity over change,” said Smilde, a professor at Tulane University.
