Who is running Venezuela?
Executive summary
The short answer: day‑to‑day authority in Caracas is being exercised by Vice‑President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as acting president after Nicolás Maduro’s capture, but real power remains dispersed among a compact civilian‑military alliance that includes Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, Interior strongman Diosdado Cabello, the Rodríguez brothers and layers of security and paramilitary networks; the United States’ seizure of Maduro has upended formal leadership while leaving a tangled de facto power structure in place [1] [2] [3]. International actors — notably the United States and its stated interest in Venezuelan oil — are now an active force shaping who can govern in practice, even as competing narratives about legal authority persist [4] [5].
1. Delcy Rodríguez: acting president on paper, caretaker in practice
Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president after Maduro’s removal and has publicly framed her role as a caretaker committed to limited reforms like releasing political prisoners, signaling a degree of cooperation with the U.S. while trying to preserve national sovereignty [1] [6] [7]. Her claim to formal authority is backed by Venezuela’s institutions that recognize the vice‑presidential succession, but her mandate is constrained by both the loyalty structures that sustained Maduro and by international non‑recognition from some quarters; U.S. officials and others question how long a Rodriguez‑led interim can command legitimacy without broader political change [1] [2] [8].
2. The ruling cabal: civilian and military power brokers who actually run the state
Analysts and reporting emphasize that Maduro’s grip had long rested on a small inner circle: Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, Interior figures like Diosdado Cabello (linked to colectivos), National Assembly leaders including Jorge Rodríguez and members of Maduro’s family network such as Nicolás Maduro Guerra; these actors control patronage, security organs and state resources, meaning removal of Maduro alone does not automatically dismantle the system [2] [3]. Reuters and other outlets note a civilian‑military balance where each leader commands distinct networks — military officers, intelligence services, intelligence networks and pro‑government militias — which together determine who can govern on the ground [2] [3].
3. The security architecture: armed forces, intelligence and colectivos
The state’s coercive apparatus — formal military leadership under Padrino, intelligence services, and informal armed groups known as colectivos — functions as the engine of control, enforcing policy and suppressing dissent; journalists and international observers report that influence over these forces is essential to ruling Venezuela and that figures like Cabello retain sway through these structures even if they are not the public face of the presidency [2] [9]. The U.S. operation that captured Maduro further highlighted the military dimension, with U.S. special forces and intelligence cited as decisive in the operation, raising alarm among Venezuela’s allies and prompting mobilization of pro‑government forces [9] [4].
4. External actors and oil: the United States as an active power broker
The United States’ military operation and public statements about “running” or managing Venezuela’s transition have injected a powerful external actor into the governance equation; U.S. officials and private oil actors now seek leverage over Venezuela’s energy resources, and Washington’s actions — including strikes, seizures and negotiations over oil — materially affect who can govern and how policy will be set going forward [4] [5] [10]. Reporting shows competing U.S. public messages about whether it will govern directly or merely pressure outcomes, creating ambiguity about the international role in determining Venezuela’s immediate rulers [4] [7].
5. Two competing narratives of legitimacy: de facto vs de jure
Maduro’s supporters and some official institutions continue to argue he remains the de jure president despite his physical removal and arraignment in the United States, while the acting Rodríguez government asserts control in Caracas and seeks to project stability; international actors differ over recognition, and legal, political and military realities diverge — meaning “who is running Venezuela” depends on whether one measures legal title, control of institutions and streets, or the reach of foreign influence [11] [1] [5]. Sources make clear that removing one figure did not erase the patronage networks, security structures and international stakes that together determine governance in Venezuela today [2] [3].