Following the January 2026 capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States forces, Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez assumed the powers of the presidency. Sworn into office on January 5, she became the first woman to hold the highest executive position in the history of Venezuela, amidst a period of extreme institutional instability and international military intervention.
Early Background and Education
Born in Caracas in 1969, Rodríguez is the daughter of Jorge Antonio Rodríguez and Delcy Gómez. Her father, a prominent figure in the Socialist League, died in 1976 while detained by the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services. After completing her secondary education, she enrolled at the Central University of Venezuela, where she earned a law degree in 1993. Her formative years at the university were marked by active involvement in student leadership and activism, establishing an early foundation for her future career in public service.
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Rodríguez gained prominence during the 2002 political unrest in Venezuela. After joining the General Coordination of the Vice Presidency in 2003, she served in several administrative roles, including Director of International Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mines and Vice-minister for European Affairs. In 2006, she was appointed Minister for Presidential Affairs by Hugo Chávez, though the tenure lasted only six months before she left the post following personal friction with the president.
Ministerial Roles and Diplomacy
In 2013, President Nicolás Maduro named her Minister of Popular Power for Communication and Information. The following year, she transitioned to the role of Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Relations, becoming the first woman to lead the nation's diplomacy.
Executive Leadership
Rodríguez served as the President of the Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela after the 2017 election. By June 2018, she became Vice President of Venezuela, a role she occupied until 2026. Her portfolio expanded during this period, encompassing the Ministry of Economy and Finance from 2020 to 2024 and the Ministry of People's Power of Hydrocarbons between 2024 and 2026. These roles placed her at the center of the government's economic and energy policies.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Caracas, Venezuela
- Education: Central University of Venezuela
- Acting President of Venezuela: 2026-present
- Vice President of Venezuela: 2018-2026
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: 2014-2017
- Minister of Finance: 2020-2024
- Order of Friendship recipient: 2024
- Order of Merit and Distinction of Palestine recipient: 2016
Questions readers ask
Was Delcy Rodríguez the first woman to lead Venezuela?
Yes, she became the first woman to perform the duties of the presidency in Venezuelan history when she was sworn in as acting president on 5 January 2026.
What governmental positions did she hold prior to the 2026 crisis?
She served as Vice President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Petroleum and Hydrocarbons, and Minister of Communications and Information.
Achievements
- member of the Chamber of Deputies of Venezuela
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela (2014–2017)
- Vice President of Venezuela (2018–2026)
- Minister of Finance of Venezuela (2020–2024)
- Order of Merit and Distinction of Palestine — 2016
- Order of Friendship — 2024
- Educated at Central University of Venezuela
