Khaberni - Delcy Rodríguez, the Venezuelan Vice President, demanded the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Celia Flores, asserting that Maduro is the "only president" of the country, in a televised speech broadcast by the state television this Saturday following a meeting of the National Defense Council.
Rodríguez stated that the meeting was attended by the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Strategic Operations, the Vice President of Citizen Security, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the high military command and the council of presidential deputies, emphasizing that all state institutions, both political and military, are on full alert across Venezuelan territory.
She noted that the Venezuelan people responded to the mobilization call previously announced by President Maduro, confirming that popular cadres took to the streets, and the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and citizen security agencies were deployed, in what she described as the defense of national independence and sovereignty following a "brutal attack" the country faced at dawn today.
The Vice President clarified that what happened is a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, particularly Articles One and Two, considering it an external aggression that shocked the international community.
She confirmed that several countries—including China, Russia, and nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia—expressed their support for Venezuela.
Simón Bolívar
In her speech, Rodríguez insisted that Venezuela "will never again be a colony of any empire," invoking the legacy of historic leader Simón Bolívar, and calling for national unity that brings together the army, the police, and the people "as one body" to defend sovereignty and independence.
The Vice President called on the Venezuelan people to maintain calm and cohesion, affirming the government's readiness for dialogue and building relationships based on mutual respect and international law, stating that the response to dialogue initiatives was a "military aggression" and an "unlawful kidnapping" of the President and the First Lady.
She also announced the permanent activation of the National Defense Council, awaiting the support of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court for the "Emergency Decree on Foreign Disturbance" signed by President Maduro, in preparation for its implementation according to constitutional frameworks.
Rodríguez asserted that the blockade imposed on Venezuela constitutes - as she described - a violation of human rights and "crimes against humanity," highlighting that the Venezuelan people have demonstrated their ability to endure, produce, and ensure essential goods despite pressures.
She concluded her speech by reaffirming Venezuela's historic and moral right to defend peace, independence, and the future of the country, considering that the Venezuelan people "will find their path in national unity, away from violence and the imposition of power."
