Delcy Rodríguez, a 56-year-old Venezuelan lawyer and politician, was sworn in by her brother Jorge Rodríguez, who serves as president of Venezuela’s National Assembly. Rodríguez is a senior figure within the country’s ruling political establishment and a long-standing member of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), which has governed Venezuela for more than two decades.
Rodríguez holds a law degree from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), one of the country’s leading public universities. During her time at UCV, she was active as a student leader. She later pursued further studies in labor law in Paris, although she did not complete a degree there. Prior to rising to senior political office, Rodríguez worked in academia and labor advocacy. She served as a professor at the Central University of Venezuela and also led the Venezuelan Association of Labor Lawyers, a professional union representing labor law specialists.
Her political career has been closely tied to Venezuela’s ruling leadership. Rodríguez is a long-time ally of former president Hugo Chávez and current president Nicolás Maduro. Over the years, she has held multiple senior government positions, placing her among the most influential figures in the Venezuelan state. Since 2018, she has served as Vice President of Venezuela, a role that has positioned her at the center of executive decision-making.
In addition to the vice presidency, Rodríguez has occupied several other key cabinet posts. She has served as Venezuela’s oil minister, overseeing the country’s most critical economic sector, as well as finance minister in a previous administration. Her portfolio has also included roles as communications minister and foreign minister. At various points, she has additionally headed a pro-government legislative body. Her extended tenure across multiple high-level offices has reinforced her status as a central operative within the ruling political structure.
Rodríguez is widely known for her close ties to Venezuela’s private sector, particularly in recent years, during which the government has sought to re-engage business interests amid prolonged economic challenges. While remaining a committed member of the ruling socialist party, she has advocated policies aimed at facilitating cooperation with private companies and investors. This positioning has distinguished her within the government as a key figure in economic and political negotiations.
She has also been characterized as a strong and vocal defender of the government’s agenda. Some media outlets have referred to her by the nickname “the tsarina,” a reference to her influence, authority, and firm public stance in defense of state policy. Her public role frequently places her at the forefront of government messaging, both domestically and internationally.
Rodríguez comes from a politically active family. Her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, is president of Venezuela’s National Assembly and played a formal role in swearing her in. The siblings have both held prominent positions within the Venezuelan political system for many years.
Alongside Rodríguez’s swearing-in, 283 lawmakers elected in parliamentary elections held last May were also sworn in on Monday. Only a small number of those legislators are considered members of the opposition. Most opposition parties declined to participate in the elections, including the faction led by Nobel Prize laureate María Corina Machado, which boycotted the vote.
The only elected lawmaker not present at the ceremony was First Lady Cilia Flores, who is currently in U.S. custody.
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