Venezuela: Delcy Rodriguez, named Venezuela’s interim president following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, has long been one of the most powerful and polarising figures in the country’s political system.
At 56, Rodriguez is widely regarded as a central enforcer of state authority, combining political toughness with a pragmatic economic approach that has set her apart within Venezuela’s socialist leadership.
Over more than a decade in senior government roles, she has built a reputation for discipline, resilience, and close engagement with the private sector, even as the country endured economic collapse, international sanctions, and a mass exodus of citizens.
Rodriguez has served as vice president since 2018, while also holding key portfolios including finance and oil. Earlier in her career, she was communications minister, foreign minister, and head of a pro-government legislature, steadily consolidating her influence across the state. She works closely with her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, the current head of the National Assembly, making the siblings one of the most influential political duos in Venezuela.
Their political roots run deep. They are the children of Jorge Antonio Rodriguez, a leftist guerrilla leader who founded the Socialist League Party and died in police custody in 1976. The family has long alleged he was tortured, and his legacy remains a powerful symbol within the Venezuelan left.
Trained as a labour lawyer, Delcy Rodriguez spent nearly a decade studying in France and England before entering public life. Despite her hardline image, she maintains a visible public profile, sharing moments from table tennis competitions with her brother and appearing at official events in high-end fashion.
As vice president, Rodriguez pushed through orthodox economic measures after years of hyperinflation, including cutting public spending, restricting credit, and maintaining a fixed exchange rate. These steps helped curb runaway inflation and stabilise parts of the economy. She also oversaw oil production averaging about 1.1 million barrels per day last year, working closely with foreign firms such as Chevron.
Known among business leaders as tireless and highly involved, Rodriguez regularly attends private sector events and travels frequently to allied nations, including China, Russia, and Turkey, reinforcing her role as one of Venezuela’s most active and influential power brokers.
