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Venezuela's interim leader works to balance U.S. demands and Chavista expectations

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+ By NPR's
− Tiny
+ International
Desk
− Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Venezuela’s interim leader works to balance U.S. demands and Chavista expectations
+
A
− month
+ boy
− after
+ holding
− Maduro's
+ an
− ousting,
+ umbrella
− Venezuela's
+ stands
− Interim
+ in
− leader
+ front
− walks
+ of
a
− tightrope between US demands and
− Chavista
+ mural
− hardliners'
+ in
− expectations.
+ support
− World
+ of
Venezuela's interim
− leader
− works
+ president
− to
+ Delcy
− balance
+ Rodriguez
− U.S.
+ that
− demands
+ reads
− and
+ "Delcy,
− Chavista
+ move
− expectations
+ forward,
− February
+ you
− 5,
+ have
− 20264:55
+ my
− AM
+ trust"
− ET
+ in
− Heard
+ Caracas
on
− Morning Edition By Manuel Rueda Venezuela’s interim leader works to balance U.S. demands and Chavista expectations Listen &middot; 3:56 3:56 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5697059/nx-s1-9636150" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript A month after Maduro's ousting, Venezuela's Interim leader walks a tightrope between
− US
+ Feb.
− demands
+ 2,
− and
+ 2026.
− Chavista
+ PEDRO
− hardliners'
+ MATTEY/AFP
− expectations.
+ via
− Sponsor
+ Getty
− Message LEILA
+ Images
− FADEL,
+ hide
− HOST:
+ caption
− It's been a month since the U.S. raided
+ CARACAS,
Venezuela
− and captured authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. But with Maduro's aides now in charge, the country still faces
− an
+ —
− uncertain
+ At
− future.
+ a
− Manuel
+ military
− Rueda
+ parade
in
− Caracas has the
− story. (SOUNDBITE
+ Caracas,
− OF
+ hundreds
− DRUMS) MANUEL
+ of
− RUEDA:
+ soldiers
− At
+ march
− a
+ past
− military
+ acting
− parade,
+ President
− hundreds
+ Delcy
− of
+ Rodríguez,
− soldiers
+ to
swear their allegiance to
− Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's acting
− president. (SOUNDBITE
+ the
− OF
+ nation's
− ARCHIVED
+ new
− RECORDING)
+ ruler.
− UNIDENTIFIED
+ At
− SOLDIERS:
+ one
− (Shouting
+ point
in
− non-English
+ the
− language). RUEDA:
+ ceremony,
− In
+ which
− the
+ included
− stands
+ several
− is
+ military bands,
General Vladimir Padrino, the head of Venezuela's armed
− forces.
+ forces approaches
+ Rodriguez.
He hands
− Rodriguez
+ her
a
− golden
− baton
+ sword
and a
− sword,
+ golden
− a
+ baton,
− symbol
+ symbols
of her new status as the nation's commander in chief.
− (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) VLADIMIR PADRINO LOPEZ: (Non-English language spoken).
− RUEDA:
"This baton is in good hands now," Padrino says.
−
+
One month after the
− U.S.
+ U.S
removed
− Nicolás
+ Nicolas
Maduro in a
− predawn
+ pre-dawn
raid on Caracas, former Vice President
− Delcy
− Rodriguez
+ Rodríguez
has moved quickly to consolidate power.
+ Depicting
− She
+ herself as a leader who is willing to work with Washington, she
has made a handful of
+ economic and political
concessions that suggest a change in
− course, but
− true
+ course
− reform
+ for
− remains
+ the
− far
+ authoritarian
− from
+ country
− certain. (SOUNDBITE
+ —
− OF
+ but
− ARCHIVED
+ lasting
− RECORDING) UNIDENTIFIED
+ reforms
− PERSON:
+ remain
− (Non-English
+ far
− language
+ from
− spoken). (APPLAUSE)
+ certain.
− RUEDA: Last week, Rodriguez
+ Rodríguez
signed a bill
+ last week
that gives foreign companies greater rights over Venezuela's oil. She has liberated
+ hundreds of
dissidents who were imprisoned
+ on charges of treason
under Maduro's rule.
− Freddy
+ An amnesty law that could secure the freedom of more prisoners is currently making its way through Venezuela's legislature. Relatives of political prisoners protest outside a Caracas court on Feb. 5, 2026, as Parliament debates an amnesty bill covering charges such as treason and terrorism. JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images hide caption Fredy
Guevara, a Venezuelan opposition leader who was forced into exile five years ago, says
− U.S.
− military
+ U.S.military
pressure has
− been
+ a
− crucial. FREDDY
+ lot
− GUEVARA:
+ to
− I
+ do with these choices. "I
think the fear of what happened to Maduro happening to them is making them
− to
make some
− moves.
+ moves,"
− They
+ said
− know
+ Guevara,
− that
+ who is now based in Boston. "They know
they are
− not
+ no
− untouchable. RUEDA:
+ longer
+ untouchable."
Venezuela continues to be an authoritarian state
+ —
where the media is
− censored
+ censored,
and dissidents
− are
+ can be
easily jailed.
−
+
Guevara says that, like many Venezuelans, he wants new elections. But he warns that major reforms must come
− first,
+ first —
starting with the
− courts. GUEVARA:
+ nation's
− We
+ courts, which are dominated by judges that follow the ruling party's orders. "We
need to make some changes in the structure of power that
− blocks
+ block
their
− capability
+ capabilities
to persecute
− people. RUEDA:
+ people," Guevara said. "That means they don't control the high courts, the prosecutor's office or the electoral
+ board."
But if reforms move too
− fast,
+ fast
powerful figures inside the ruling
− Socialist
+ socialist
− Party
+ party
could push
− back,
+ back.
− and
+ And
they control armed gangs and parts of the military.
− PHIL GUNSON: It's the danger that if
+ "If
you put a foot
− wrong,
− then
+ wrong
you end up with violent chaos, because people will
− resist if you try to do it
− too
+ resist"
− fast. RUEDA:
+ said
Phil
− Gunson
− is
+ Gunson,
a
− Caracas-based
+ Caracas based
analyst at the International Crisis Group.
−
+
He
− says
+ said
that members of the ruling party will still need to be given
− assurances. GUNSON:
+ assurances
− For
+ that they will not be persecuted if the judicial system is reformed, or if another party is voted into office. "For
many of
− them,
+ them
at an individual
− level,
+ level
this is an existential
− issue. I
− mean,
+ issue,
they genuinely
− fear
+ feel
that if they lost
− power,
+ power
they
− would
+ will
end up in
− jail. RUEDA:
+ jail," Gunson
+ said.
For the moment, acting President
− Rodriguez
+ Rodríguez
has been
− slow-walking
+ slow walking
political
− reforms
+ reforms,
like the release of
− prisoners,
− and
+ prisoners. And
she has not talked about new elections or changes to Venezuela's judiciary.
− JAMES
+ Gunson
− STORY:
+ said
− What
+ Rodríguez
− Delcy
+ is
− Rodriguez
+ performing
− will
+ "a
− do
+ very
− will
+ difficult
− be
+ balancing
− to
+ act"
− do
+ between
− what
+ meeting
− they've
+ reform
− always
+ demands
− done,
+ from
− which
+ Washington
− is
+ and
− play
+ managing
− for
+ pressure
− time. RUEDA:
+ from
− James
+ her
− Story
+ own
− is
+ supporters—
− a
+ both
− former
+ civilian
− U.S.
+ and
− ambassador
+ military
− to
+ —
− Venezuela. STORY:
+ who
− Do
+ "definitely
− just
+ don't
− enough
+ want
to
− make
+ see
− it
+ a
− look
+ political
− as
+ opening." Acting
− if
+ President
− they
+ Delcy
− are
+ Rodríguez
− complying
+ holds
− while
+ up
− they're
+ the
− waiting
+ newly
− to
+ approved
− see
+ oil
− whether
+ reform
− or
+ law
− not
+ during
− the
+ an
− midterm
+ event
− elections
+ at
− somehow
+ Miraflores
− create
+ Palace
− a
+ in
− problem
+ Caracas,
− for
+ Venezuela,
− the
+ Jan.
− president
+ 29,
− in
+ 2026
− exercising
+ Carlos
− authority
+ Becerra/Getty
− in
+ Images
− Venezuela.
+ South America hide caption
− RUEDA:
+ James
− Story
+ Story,
− said
+ a
− that
+ former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela who served under both
the
− U.S.
+ first
− will
+ Trump
− have
+ and
− to
+ Biden
− keep
+ administrations,
− up
+ said
− military
+ Rodríguez
− pressure
+ is
− if
+ moving
− it
+ as
− wants
+ slowly
− to
+ as
− see
+ possible
− more
+ on
political
− reforms
+ reforms,
− in
+ betting
− Venezuela.
+ that
− One
+ Washington's
− reason
+ focus
− to
+ will
− do
+ fade. Her
− that
+ strategy,
− is
+ Story said, appears
to
− make
+ be
− Venezuela
+ to
− more
+ "do
− attractive
+ just
− for
+ enough
− oil
+ to
− companies. GUEVARA:
+ make
− These
+ it
− people
+ look
− that
+ as
− are
+ if
− still
+ they're
− running
+ complying,"
− the
+ while
− show
+ waiting
− in
+ to
− Venezuela,
+ see
− they
+ whether
− are
+ U.S.
− not
+ midterm
− reliable
+ elections
− partners. RUEDA:
+ weaken
− Guevara
+ President
− argues
+ Trump's
− that
+ ability
− democracy
+ to
− would
+ exert
− serve
+ pressure
− both
+ on
− countries
+ Venezuela. Story
− by
+ said
− curbing
+ the
− migration
+ United
− and
+ States
− keeping
+ will
− Venezuela
+ need
− from
+ to
− aligning
+ maintain
− with
+ the
− rivals
+ threat
− like
+ of
− Russia
+ military
− or
+ pressure
− Iran.
+ if
− He's
+ it
− hoping
+ wants
− that
+ to
− the
+ see
− Trump
+ further
− administration
+ reforms.
− also
+ He
− sees
+ added
− things
+ that
− this
+ Washington
− way. GUEVARA:
+ should
− For
+ also
− now,
+ demand
− for
+ the disbandment of
the
− first
+ armed
− time
+ urban
− in
+ gangs
− our
+ known
− lives,
+ as
− there's
+ colectivos,
− a
+ which
− chance
+ control
− that
+ some
− we
+ neighborhoods
− might
+ and
have
− a
+ been
− peaceful
+ used
− negotiation
+ to
− that
+ intimidate
− will
+ opposition
− get
+ activists. "Right
− into
+ now
− a
+ is
− democratic
+ when
− transition.
+ you
− Of
+ make
− course,
+ the
− it's
+ hard
− a
+ asks,"
− weird
+ Story
− case
+ said. One
− because
+ reason
− it's
+ the
− a
+ U.S.
− peaceful
+ might
− negotiation
+ want
− by
+ to
− coercion. RUEDA:
+ keep
− For
+ up
− NPR
+ its
− News,
+ effort
− I'm
+ to
− Manuel
+ ensure
− Rueda
+ democratic reforms
in
− Caracas. (SOUNDBITE
+ Venezuela,
− OF
+ is
− OKONSKI'S
+ to
− "SUMMER
+ make
− STORM")
+ it
− Copyright
+ a
− &copy;
+ more
− 2026
+ attractive
− NPR.
+ place
− All
+ for
− rights
+ oil
− reserved.
+ companies,
− Visit
+ said
− our
+ Raul
− website
+ Stolk,
− terms
+ a
− of
+ former
− use
+ oil
− and
+ industry
− permissions
+ lawyer
− pages
+ who
− at
+ now
− www.npr.org
+ runs
− for
+ the
− further
+ Caracas
− information.
+ Chronicles
− Accuracy
+ website. To
− and
+ invest
− availability
+ in
− of
+ Venezuela,
− NPR
+ "these
− transcripts
+ companies
− may
+ are
− vary.
+ going
− Transcript
+ to
− text
+ be
− may
+ pushing
− be
+ for
− revised
+ making
− to
+ sure
− correct
+ the
− errors
+ legal
− or
+ system
− match
+ works,
− updates
+ that
− to
+ there
− audio.
+ is
− Audio
+ transparency,
− on
+ that
− npr.org
+ they
− may
+ are
− be
+ shielded
− edited
+ from
− after
+ corrupt
− its
+ courts,
− original
+ and
− broadcast
+ that
− or
+ there
− publication.
+ is
− The
+ political
− authoritative
+ peace
− record
+ in
− of
+ the
− NPR’s
+ country"
− programming
+ Stolk
− is
+ said. Many in
the
− audio
+ Venezuelan
− record.
+ opposition,
− Facebook
+ like
− Flipboard
+ Guevara,
− Email
+ hope
− Read
+ that
− &
+ the
− Listen
+ U.S.
− Home
+ opts
− News
+ for
− Culture
+ a
− Music
+ democratic
− Podcasts
+ transition,
− &
+ instead
− Shows
+ of
− Connect
+ working
− Newsletters
+ indefinitely
− Facebook
+ with
− Instagram
+ Rodriguez
− Press
+ and
− Public
+ her
− Editor
+ allies. Guevara
− Corrections
+ argues
− Transcripts
+ that
− Contact
+ democracy
− &
+ would
− Help
+ serve
− About
+ both
− NPR
+ countries
− Overview
+ —
− Diversity
+ curbing
− NPR
+ migration
− Network
+ and
− Accessibility
+ keeping
− Ethics
+ Venezuela
− Finances
+ from
− Get
+ aligning
− Involved
+ with
− Support
+ rivals
− Public
+ like
− Radio
+ Russia
− Sponsor
+ or
− NPR
+ Iran. He
− NPR
+ is
− Careers
+ hoping
− NPR
+ that
− Shop
+ the
− NPR
+ Trump
− Extra
+ administration
− Terms
+ also
− of
+ sees
− Use
+ things
− Privacy
+ this
− Your
+ way. "I
− Privacy
+ think
− Choices
+ that
− Text
+ for
− Only
+ the
− Sponsor
+ first
− Message
+ time
− Sponsor
+ in
− MessageBecome
+ our
− an
+ lives
− NPR
+ there's
− sponsor
+ a
− (function
+ chance
− ()
+ that
− {
+ we
− var
+ may
− loadPageJs
+ have
− =
+ a
− function
+ peaceful
− ()
+ negotiation
− {
+ that
− (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1167:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(323)},323:function(e,n,c){"use
+ will
− strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(84)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1140),c(116),c(94),c(52),c(493),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1141),c(143),c(1142),c(238),c(48),c(1143)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1167,0]]]);
+ lead
− };
+ to
− if
+ a
− (document.readyState
+ democratic
− ===
+ transition,"
− 'complete')
+ Guevara
− {
+ said.
− loadPageJs();
+ "Of
− }
+ course
− else
+ it's
− {
+ a
− window.addEventListener('load',
+ weird
− function
+ case
− load()
+ because
− {
+ it's
− window.removeEventListener('load',
+ a
− load,
+ negotiation
− false);
+ by
− loadPageJs();
+ coercion." Sponsor
− });
+ Message Become
− }
+ an
− })();
+ NPR sponsor