Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has demanded the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In a televised address following a meeting of the National Defense Council, Rodriguez asserted that Maduro remains the “sole legitimate president” of the country.
According to Rodriguez, the National Defense Council convened with the participation of the Minister of Defense, the head of Strategic Operations, the Deputy Minister of Citizen Security, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, senior military leaders, and members of the Vice Presidential Council. She emphasized that all state institutions – political, military, and security – are on high alert throughout Venezuela.
Rodriguez stated that the Venezuelan people have responded to the mobilization call previously issued by President Maduro. She confirmed that popular cadres have taken to the streets and that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and citizen security agencies have been deployed to defend national sovereignty and independence following what she described as a “brutal attack” on the country earlier today.
The Vice President characterized the events as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, specifically Articles 1 and 2, and asserted that Venezuela has been subjected to external aggression, triggering widespread shock within the international community. She noted that several countries, including China, Russia, and nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia, have expressed their support for Venezuela.
Rodriguez invoked the legacy of Simon Bolivar, emphasizing that Venezuela will never again be a colony of any empire. She called for national unity, urging the army, police, and people to stand together as one in defense of sovereignty and independence. The Vice President appealed to the Venezuelan people to remain calm and united, while reiterating the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue and build relationships based on mutual respect and international law. She argued that dialogue initiatives had been met with “military aggression” and the “illegal kidnapping” of the President and First Lady.
Finally, Rodriguez announced the permanent activation of the National Defense Council, pending support from the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court for the “Decree of External Disturbance” signed by President Maduro, paving the way for further action.
