STORY: The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court ordered on Saturday (January 3) that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early Saturday morning in an operation by U.S. forces.

The court ruling said that Rodríguez would assume "the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation."

The ruling added that the court will debate the matter in order to "determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic."

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SHOWS: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 3, 2026) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV (VTV) - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UPSOUND AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT, TANIA D'AMELIO, READING SUPREME COURT STATEMENT, SAYING:

"It is hereby ordered that Delsy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, Executive Vice-President of the Republic, assume and exercise all the powers, duties and authorities inherent to the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UPSOUND AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT, TANIA D'AMELIO, READING SUPREME COURT STATEMENT, SAYING:

"To determine the legal regime applicable to guarantee the continuity of the state, the management of government and the defence of sovereignty in the forced absence of the President of the Republic."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UPSOUND AND STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT, TANIA D'AMELIO, READING SUPREME COURT STATEMENT, SAYING:

"In the forced absence of the President of the Republic, in light of the exceptional situation caused by the kidnapping of the citizen Nicolás Maduro Moro, President of the Republic, which constitutes a case of material and temporary impossibility for the exercise of his functions."