Venezuela’s Acting President Rodríguez dismisses U.S. narrative of control, vows to rescue President Maduro

Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com), Jan. 11 — “Who leads the Venezuelan people? The people’s power. Who governs Venezuela? The people’s power and its constitutional government,” declared Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. “So there is no doubt here, no uncertainty here. … The Venezuelan people rule here, and there is a government, the government of President Nicolás Maduro, and I have the responsibility to lead it while he is being held captive. That is the message for all of Venezuela.”

Rodríguez’s statements come as U.S. President Donald Trump and mainstream media attempt daily to impose a narrative alleging that the U.S. regime is ruling Venezuela.

During a meeting with communes in the Caracas parish of Petare on Saturday, Jan. 10, Rodríguez called on the people to continue “marching together, united, guaranteeing happiness, life, future and peace.” During the event, a community spokesperson named Yohana handed Rodríguez a note on behalf of her commune, which she read aloud: “Delcy, keep marching forward, you have my trust.”

Rodríguez thanked the crowd, emphasizing that they have her loyalty just as she has theirs. “We will not rest for a minute until we have the president and the first lady back. We will not rest. We swear it.” She emphasized that Maduro had been sworn in exactly one year earlier, on Jan. 10, 2025, for the constitutional term of 2025–31.

“Today, Jan. 10, one year later, we are swearing for their freedom. We will rescue them; of course we will. With the unity of our people, we will rescue them,” Rodríguez declared.

“Never traitors!” Rodríguez added, to which the people responded with the slogan: “Delcy, carry on, you have my trust.”

She stressed that Venezuelans are united in their condemnation of the vile and criminal U.S. military attack of Jan. 3, adding that the government is working to achieve the release of the U.S. prisoners of war: President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady and National Assembly Deputy Cilia Flores.

Strengthening national production

Rodríguez also highlighted the strengthening of sovereign supply and the consolidation of productive unity. In this context, she urged every governor to maintain a focus on the productivity of their respective regions, with linkages across all economic levels.

She said the last instruction that President Nicolás Maduro personally gave her was: “Work for communal production, and let that communal production be linked with entrepreneurs and the agro-industry.”

During the event, Rodríguez oversaw the distribution of animal protein and highlighted 10% growth in the sector, which includes chicken, eggs, pork and beef. She also emphasized the potential of Venezuela’s buffalo herd, the largest in the hemisphere and the third largest in the world.

She highlighted the importance of national production and called for entrepreneurship using national products because, “within the framework of the blockade against Venezuela,” imperialism is trying “to suffocate us with foreign currency.” Consequently, she called for a sustained increase in national production.

President Maduro’s legal team

Barry Pollack, President Nicolás Maduro’s lawyer in the U.S., denied that another lawyer, Bruce Fein, had joined the legal team.

Pollack said he spoke by phone with President Maduro, who confirmed that “he does not know Fein,” that “he has not communicated with him,” and that “he has neither hired him nor authorized him to appear or to say that he represents him,” according to a report by the EFE news agency.

Pollack explained that Fein requested to join the case pro hac vice — a legal mechanism that allows a lawyer to represent a client on an occasional basis in a jurisdiction where they are not licensed — which requires judicial authorization.

“Mr. Maduro authorized me to submit a motion to withdraw Mr. Fein’s presentation” as his defense, Pollack said. In response to the request, Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered Fein removed from the case.

The next hearing for the presidential couple in the illegal U.S. judicial procedure against Venezuela’s president — who is protected by personal immunity — is scheduled for March 17.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff