Caracas, 15 January (H.S.): Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim president and former vice president under Nicolas Maduro, proclaimed on Wednesday that the nation is embracing a new political era characterized by tolerance and ideological pluralism following the dramatic U.S. capture of Maduro on January 3.
In her inaugural press conference at the presidential palace since the regime change, Rodriguez positioned herself as a unifying figure, pledging greater understanding amid political differences after 12 years of Maduro's repressive governance.
This overture comes as President Donald Trump endorsed her leadership on condition of alignment with Washington’s priorities, notably securing access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, while sidelining opposition figure Maria Corina Machado, whom he deemed lacking sufficient domestic respect.
Prisoner Releases and Reconciliation Push
Rodriguez announced the ongoing liberation of political detainees, claiming 406 releases since December, with acceleration in recent days including 17 journalists and media workers on Wednesday; among them, prominent opposition activist and Popular Will party member Roland Carreno, detained for one year, five months, and 12 days since August 2024 post-election protests, emerged calling for peace and reconciliation in a video shared by fellow freed detainees.
Foro Penal tallied around 180 releases, while AFP verified 70 since January 8, encompassing Americans, Spaniards, and Italians, amid discreet off-site discharges to mute opposition celebrations and preserve Maduro loyalists' control over security apparatus.
Trump halted a planned second offensive after these concessions, having praised Rodriguez in a recent call as making tremendous progress, though Machado plans a White House meeting Thursday to advocate for a transition including herself and 2024 opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
Digital Thaw and Balancing Act
Venezuelans regained access to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday after over a year of Maduro-era blocking, with Rodriguez updating her bio to acting president and posting calls for unity toward economic stability and social justice; Maduro’s account persists with images of the deposed leader and his wife Cilia Flores.
Rodriguez navigates a precarious equilibrium, satisfying U.S. demands without fracturing regime hardliners dominating intelligence and military ranks, as prior swaps freed some Americans last year and analysts note oil access as Trump’s core focus amid broader geopolitical maneuvers.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
