The Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB), the military arm of the Venezuelan dictatorship, declared this Sunday (4) support for Delcy Rodríguez, summoned by the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela to take interim command of the country after the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
In a statement read by the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, FANB states that it accepts the decision of the Supreme Court, and reiterates political support for Maduro, described in the text as the “true and legitimate constitutional leader”, in addition to demanding from the American authorities the immediate release of the former head of the regime.
On Saturday (3) night, the president of the court’s Constitutional Chamber, Tania D’Amelio, read a radio and television statement in which she classified Maduro’s capture as a “kidnapping” and stated that the case constitutes an “exceptional, atypical and force majeure” situation, not literally provided for in the Constitution.
According to the court, Rodríguez’s appointment aims to guarantee the administrative continuity of the State and national defense, “without deciding on the definitive legal qualification of the absence of the head of the Executive, temporary or absolute”, nor replacing the actions of other bodies that may analyze the case later.
The text cites article 234 of the Venezuelan Constitution, according to which, in the case of temporary or absolute absence of the head of the Executive, the deputy leader can take over for up to 90 days, a period that can be extended by Parliament for an equivalent period. If the absence exceeds 90 consecutive days, it is up to the Legislature to decide whether the situation should be considered permanent.
Armed Forces say they support state of exception in Venezuela by expanding state power
In the same statement, FANB declared “total” support for the so-called state of external commotion, an unprecedented type of state of exception that expands the powers of the State in situations of conflict in Venezuela.
On September 29, Rodríguez, who also holds the position of Minister of Hydrocarbons, had announced, during a meeting with the diplomatic corps in Caracas, that Maduro had signed a decree of external commotion, alleging supposed threats from the United States.
Among the planned measures are the mobilization of the Armed Forces throughout the national territory, the immediate military takeover of public service infrastructures, the hydrocarbon industry and strategic state-owned companies, in addition to the activation of special internal security plans.
