Venezuelan acting president vows to realize return of Maduro, his wife

Caracas: Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez pledged to realize the return of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were seized by the United States on January 3.

Speaking at a community event in Miranda state on Saturday, Rodriguez said there was no uncertainty about Venezuela’s leadership or governing program, Xinhua news agency reported.

“There is no uncertainty here. The Venezuelan people are in charge, and there is a government, that of President Nicolas Maduro,” she said, calling for unity to guarantee peace, stability and the country’s future.

Rodriguez vowed not to rest “for a single minute” until Maduro and Flores return to Venezuela.

She noted that a year ago, she was sworn in alongside Maduro at the start of his third term, adding that “today, one year later, we are swearing for his freedom.”

Rodriguez said national unity would be decisive in what she described as the effort to “rescue” Maduro, reaffirming that her government continues to implement the seven lines of action set by Maduro.

US forces carried out military strikes in Caracas and three other Venezuelan cities on January 3, an operation that led to the seizure of Maduro and Flores. The strikes have drawn worldwide condemnation and concern.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners, crediting direct US action for what he described as a major development and issuing a sharp warning to those being freed.

In a message posted on social media, Trump said the release process had begun “in a BIG WAY,” framing it as a result of American intervention in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

“Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners. Thank you!” Trump wrote.

The President directly linked the move to US involvement, suggesting the outcome would not have occurred without American pressure. “I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done,” he said.

IANS