Rodriguez’s Leadership Ambitions Collide with Venezuelan Protests as Maduro Arrested

A retired brigadier general has warned that Venezuelans are unlikely to accept Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as a long-term leader following the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. Speaking recently, the official stated that while Rodriguez might serve in an interim capacity, she is not viewed by the populace as a stable figure capable of sustaining governance.

President Trump claimed on Saturday that Rodriguez was cooperating after Maduro’s arrest, but she publicly condemned the operation and called for Maduro’s release, revealing a clear gap between the United States and Caracas. The retired general noted that regime security forces are gradually losing control, with some exhibiting “strength, maybe some brutality,” while the broader political landscape remains chaotic.

The military operation that led to Maduro’s capture has been described as “extremely clean and surgical” by the official, but he cautioned against further U.S. interventions that could escalate into ground troop deployments. The general also mentioned opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez as a potential figurehead for a transitional government.