Venezuela’s interim leader sworn in after Maduro appears in court

Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president during a parliamentary session that began with calls for the United States to release ousted leader Nicolás Maduro.

Rodriguez, 56, who has been vice president since 2018, said she was pained by the incident in which Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, were “kidnapped” by U.S. forces in an overnight raid on Saturday.

exist dramatic scene Two hours earlier, in a New York courtroom, Maduro insisted he was still Venezuela’s president and pleaded not guilty to four counts of drug trafficking and terrorism.

Meanwhile, the United States faces harsh criticism at the United Nations, but its ambassador says the world’s largest energy reserves must not fall into the hands of illegitimate leaders and “fugitives.”

Before appearing in court, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada said Venezuela had been the target of “illegal armed attacks that lack any legal basis.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the attack by describing Maduro as an “illegitimate so-called president.”

Walz added that the United States had taken “surgical law enforcement operations” to arrest Maduro, who has also been described as a “fugitive from justice.”

Maduro was charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

During a court appearance on Monday afternoon, a member of the public began shouting in Spanish at Maduro, saying he would “pay the price” for what he had done.

Maduro turned to him and replied that he was the “kidnapped president” and a “prisoner of war,” before being escorted out a backyard door in handcuffs behind his wife.

“I am a decent man. I am still the president of my country,” Maduro said earlier during the 30-minute hearing.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, interjected, telling Maduro there would be “a time and a place to step into this.”

Just hours after Saturday’s attack, more than 150 planes and 200 U.S. personnel entered Venezuela. Trump vowed that the United States would “manage” Venezuela until a “safe, appropriate and wise transition” was possible.

He also promised that U.S. oil companies would come into the country to repair infrastructure “and start making money for the country.”

But despite the US president’s claims, Maduro’s allies remain in power.

On Sunday, after Rodriguez was sworn in, Trump commented in the American magazine The Atlantic that if she “didn’t do the right thing,” she could “pay a very big price, probably even bigger than Maduro.”

At a cabinet meeting, Rodriguez said her government would engage in some cooperation with the United States, saying: “We invite the U.S. government to work with us on a cooperation agenda oriented toward common development within the framework of international law.”

Thousands of Venezuelans gathered outside the Federal Legislative Palace to show support as Maduro, his wife and interim President Rodriguez were sworn in.

Rodriguez told the National Assembly after taking the oath that she took the oath “with pain” because of the pain caused by “illegal military aggression.”

She vowed to safeguard peace in the country, “guarantee the spiritual tranquility of our people, and safeguard the economic and social tranquility of our people.”

The assembly also heard from Maduro’s son, who expressed support for his parents, saying they “will return” to Venezuela.

He also expressed his “unconditional support” to Rodriguez.

The next court hearing in Maduro’s case is scheduled for March 17.