Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served under Hugo Chavez’s administration, has quickly taken the reins as Venezuela’s interim president following the recent upheaval. Her swift appointment comes in the wake of the unsettling attack and abduction of President Nicolas Maduro.

Rodriguez, now stepping into the spotlight, has not yet detailed her plans for the country’s future, nor have there been clear signals from the White House about the next steps. Despite the tense circumstances, she condemned the recent events and hinted at a willingness to engage in an “agenda of cooperation” with the United States.

In a statement to reporters, President Trump expressed a cautious optimism about working with Rodriguez. However, he issued a stern warning that failing to act in accordance with U.S. expectations could result in severe consequences, potentially even more significant than those faced by her predecessor, Maduro.

As a close ally of Maduro, Rodriguez is seen as unlikely to make overt concessions to the United States. Within Venezuela’s government, there appears to be no immediate internal opposition to her leadership.

Adding to the political dynamics, her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, holds a significant position as the chair of Venezuela’s National Assembly, further solidifying her influence in the country’s political landscape.

But nonetheless Rodriguez is not the only person vying for the country’s shaken leadership.

Maduro has been accused of widespread fraud and candidate suppression in multiple elections, including leading opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.

Machado won a huge primary vote in 2023, before being barred in 2024 from running in the presidential election, under charges of having committed conspiracy with 2018 opposition leader Juan Guaido.

That election, too, was marred by allegations of fraud against Maduro. Guaido now lives in exile.

But even with Machado out of the official picture, her supported candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, was deemed the official victor of the 2024 election by many international observers.

Gonzalez even called on the military to install him after Maduro’s removal, claiming that was what the country’s constitution demanded.

“As commander in chief, I remind you that your loyalty is to the constitution, to the people and to the republic,” González said in a statement from his own home of exile in Spain.

“This is a historic moment. We face it with calm, clarity and democratic commitment.”

But Gonzalez has not been mentioned by the White House, who if they have long-term plans for regime change beyond Maduro’s removal, are not speaking of them.

And Trump on the weekend dismissed Machado’s prospects of a return from the political wilderness, saying he did not believe she would have the “support” to lead.

But he told the New York Post “I like (Machado) very much”.

Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize coveted by Trump, but she praised the US leader in her acceptance speech.

Some analysts have said another possibility that the hard-line Rodriguez might be playing the role of a willing post-Maduro “caretaker”.

“Her rise to power appears to be the result of some kind of understanding between the United States and key actors preparing for a post-Maduro scenario,” fomer Venezuela-based diplomat and policy analyst Imdat Oner told CNN.

“In that context, she would essentially serve as a caretaker until a democratically elected leader takes office.”

CNN has previously reported that US officials favoured Rodríguez since they believe she can provide a stable transition, offer a more professional relationship than Maduro – and, perhaps most importantly, ensure that future American energy investments are protected.

Additional reporting by CNN.