Delcy Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delcy Rodríguez
|
|
|---|---|
Rodríguez in 2024
|
|
| Acting President of Venezuela | |
| Assumed office 3 January 2026 |
|
| Vice President | Herself |
| Preceded by | Nicolás Maduro |
| Vice President of Venezuela | |
| Assumed office 14 June 2018 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro Herself (acting) |
| Preceded by | Tareck El Aissami |
| Minister of Petroleum and Hydrocarbons | |
| Assumed office 27 August 2024 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro Herself (acting) |
| Preceded by | Pedro Tellechea |
| Minister of Economy and Finance | |
| In office 10 September 2020 – 27 August 2024 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro |
| Preceded by | Simón Zerpa |
| Succeeded by | Anabel Pereira Fernández |
| President of the Constituent National Assembly | |
| In office 4 August 2017 – 14 June 2018 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro |
| Preceded by | Luis Miquilena (1999) |
| Succeeded by | Diosdado Cabello |
| 189th Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 26 December 2014 – 21 June 2017 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro |
| Preceded by | Rafael Ramírez |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Moncada |
| 2nd Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information | |
| In office 3 August 2013 – 13 October 2014 |
|
| President | Nicolás Maduro |
| Preceded by | Ernesto Villegas |
| Succeeded by | Jacqueline Faría |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez
May 18, 1969 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Political party | PSUV (2012–2018, 2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Movement We Are Venezuela (2018) |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Jorge Rodríguez (brother) |
| Alma mater | Central University of Venezuela |
Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (born 18 May 1969) is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. She became the acting President of Venezuela on January 5, 2026. This happened after Nicolás Maduro was no longer in his position. She has also served as the Vice President of Venezuela since 2018.
Rodríguez has held many important jobs in the Venezuelan government. She was the Minister of Communication and Information from 2013 to 2014. Later, she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2017. She was also the President of the Constituent Assembly from 2017 to 2018. From 2024 to 2025, she was the Minister of Petroleum.
She is a leader in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Some countries, like the European Union, the United States, and Canada, have placed restrictions on her. These restrictions are due to concerns about democracy and how the government was run in Venezuela. There were also some disagreements about her role as vice president between 2019 and 2023. Despite these challenges, she helped improve Venezuela's economy and increase its oil production.
On January 3, 2026, President Nicolás Maduro was no longer in his position. This led to Rodríguez becoming the acting president of the country. She appeared on state television, saying that Maduro was still Venezuela's only president. Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice then officially ordered Rodríguez to become the acting president.
Early Life and Education
Delcy Rodríguez was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 18, 1969. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, is also a politician. He is currently the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela. Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a political leader. He passed away in 1976 when Delcy was young. Her mother is Delcy Gómez.
Rodríguez studied law at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). She graduated in 1993. While at UCV, she was an active student leader. She also studied labor law in Paris.
In her professional life, Rodríguez taught at the Central University of Venezuela. She also led the union for Venezuelan labor lawyers.
Starting a Career in Politics
Rodríguez became involved in national politics during a political crisis in Venezuela in 2002. While in London, she and her mother protested against the temporary government in Venezuela. They spoke to international news channels like the BBC and CNN. They wanted to share information about the situation in their country.
In 2003, Rodríguez began working for the Vice Presidency of Venezuela. She then became the Director of International Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mines. In 2005, she was named Vice-minister for European Affairs.
From February to August 2006, Rodríguez served as the Minister for Presidential Affairs. In 2007, she worked as the General Coordinator for the Vice-President of Venezuela. Her brother was the Vice President at that time.
In August 2013, President Nicolás Maduro appointed her as the Minister of Communication and Information. She held this position until October 2014.
Important Roles in Government
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In December 2014, President Nicolás Maduro chose Rodríguez to be the Minister of Foreign Relations. She was the first woman in Venezuela's history to hold this important job.
In December 2015, Rodríguez attended a meeting of Mercosur leaders. There, she had disagreements with Argentina's President, Mauricio Macri, about Venezuela's internal affairs. President Maduro later praised Rodríguez for how she handled the situation.
During the same meeting, Rodríguez showed images related to protests and public buildings in Venezuela. She said these images showed responsibility for "attacks against essential public services and Venezuelan universities."
In 2016, Rodríguez disagreed with Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States (OAS). This was because he tried to suspend Venezuela from the OAS. She said his actions were part of a plan to interfere with Venezuela.
.jpg)
In June 2016, President Nicolás Maduro gave Rodríguez a special award. It was the Military Order of National Defense, First Class. She received it for "defending the interests of the nation." In December 2016, she received another award, the Order of Liberators and Liberators of Venezuela, First Class. This was for her efforts to "bring the truth of Venezuela to the world."
In December 2016, after Venezuela was suspended from Mercosur, Rodríguez tried to attend a meeting in Buenos Aires, but she was not allowed to enter.
In June 2017, Rodríguez left her role as Foreign Minister. She decided to run as a candidate for the National Constituent Assembly. She was replaced by Samuel Moncada.
President of the Constituent Assembly
In July 2017, Rodríguez was elected as a representative for Caracas to the National Constituent Assembly (ANC). When the ANC was formed in August 2017, she was chosen to be its president.
In January 2018, President Nicolás Maduro announced that Rodríguez would lead a new political group. This group was called the Somos Venezuela Movement. In February 2018, Rodríguez left the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to join this new movement. She rejoined the PSUV in October 2018.
Vice President of Venezuela
.jpg)
_04.jpg)
On June 14, 2018, President Maduro appointed Rodríguez as the Vice President of Venezuela. She took over from Tareck El Aissami. As Vice President, she also became the head of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), which is Venezuela's intelligence agency.
In December 2018, Rodríguez welcomed the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to Venezuela. In November 2022, she visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Minister of Economy and Finance
Since September 10, 2020, Rodríguez has also served as the Minister of Economy and Finance of Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro appointed her to this position.
In July 2021, Rodríguez attended the Annual Assembly of Fedecámaras. This was the first time in 20 years that a high-ranking government official attended this event. She spoke about how important private businesses are for Venezuela's economy.
Becoming Acting President
On January 3, 2026, President Nicolás Maduro was no longer in his position. According to Venezuela's laws, the Vice President takes over if the President's position becomes empty. So, Vice President Rodríguez was given presidential powers. US officials also made contact with her.
Later on January 3, Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice officially ordered Rodríguez to "assume and exercise, as acting president, all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of president." This was to ensure the government could continue to function.
First Speech
Rodríguez appeared on Venezuelan state television. In her first speech, she stated that Maduro was still Venezuela's president. She asked for calm and unity to protect the country while Maduro was not in his position. She also said that Venezuela would never be controlled by another nation.
Sworn In
She was officially sworn in as acting president on January 5, 2026. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, who is the president of the National Assembly, performed the ceremony.
International Relations and Sanctions
Several countries have placed restrictions on Delcy Rodríguez. The government of Colombia, a neighboring country, included her on a list of people not allowed to enter Colombia.
In September 2017, Canada placed restrictions on Rodríguez. This was because of her role in Venezuela's political situation.
In June 2018, the European Union also placed restrictions on Rodríguez. Her assets were frozen, and she was not allowed to travel to EU countries. This was for "undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela."
In April 2018, the Mexican Senate approved a measure to freeze the assets of Venezuelan officials, including Rodríguez. They also prohibited them from entering Mexico.
In July 2018, Switzerland also placed restrictions on Rodríguez, similar to the European Union.
In September 2018, the United States placed restrictions on Rodríguez. This was due to concerns about "corruption and humanitarian issues."
Personal life
Rodríguez was in a relationship with Venezuelan actor and model Fernando Carrillo until 2007. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, is the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela.
See also
In Spanish: Delcy Rodríguez para niños
- List of ministers of foreign affairs of Venezuela
- List of current foreign ministers
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
- List of female foreign ministers
