The Army and Police of Venezuela swore allegiance to interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday, who is governing the country after the detention of authoritarian leader Rodrigo Maduro and his transfer to the U.S., LETA reported citing AFP.
This oath means that Rodriguez supports the key pillar of Maduro's power — the army, which has allowed him to withstand pressure from the United States and sanctions against his leftist regime since the transition from Hugo Chavez to the presidency in 2013.
56-year-old Rodriguez is trying to strengthen support for her government, seeking to please both Maduro's supporters and U.S. President Donald Trump.
"We swear absolute loyalty and obedience," said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, handing Rodriguez a ceremonial scepter and the sword of independence hero Simón Bolívar.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello pledged loyalty on behalf of the police forces.
During the swearing-in ceremony, more than 3,000 soldiers and police in uniform marched past Rodriguez, who became the first woman to lead the Venezuelan state and the supreme commander of the armed forces.
"This is an unprecedented moment in our republic," Padrino said.
Rodriguez's support is important, "because we feel that protecting your power means protecting the continuity of governance and the integrity of the people of Venezuela," Cabello noted.
On January 3, U.S. armed forces detained Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during an operation in Caracas and transported them to New York for trial on charges brought by the U.S. related to drug trafficking.
Trump stated that Rodriguez could remain in power as long as she meets his demands, particularly ensuring U.S. access to Venezuela's oil resources.
Hours after Maduro's ousting, Trump indicated that he preferred to pressure Rodriguez rather than transfer power to the opposition. He said that opposition leader María Corina Machado is a "very nice woman" who, however, does not have "respect" in Venezuela.
While visiting Washington on Wednesday, Machado stated: "No one trusts Delcy Rodriguez."
"We are talking about criminals. They intentionally killed people. They forced a third of the population to leave the country and flee. They developed the most criminal system of torture and repression in the history of this hemisphere. This is state terrorism, and she is a key part of it," Machado said.
During the military ceremony, Rodriguez responded to Machado, sarcastically stating that she is not a welcome guest in Venezuela.
"Those who seek to harm the people of Venezuela should stay in Washington," Rodriguez said.
