Original article: No hay fisuras en el chavismo: Jorge Rodríguez se mantiene como Presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela

Chavismo Remains United: Jorge Rodríguez Reaffirmed as President of Venezuela’s National Assembly

In a session characterized by the unity of the Chavista movement and international condemnation of recent military attacks by the United States and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Venezuela’s National Assembly convened on Monday to inaugurate the new constitutional legislative period for 2026-2031 and the annual session for 2026-2027.

During the session, newly elected deputies from the May elections took their oath and voted to establish the new Board of Directors responsible for guiding legislative activities throughout the year.

The proposal was put forward by Deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra, representing the Patriotic Block, which unites all parties in the Gran Polo Patriótico Simón Bolívar (GPPSB). Jorge Rodríguez was nominated for the presidency, with Pedro Infante as first vice president and Grecia Colmenares as second vice president, all elected by a significant majority.

Following the vote, all selected officials took their oaths, which will be communicated to all branches of government.

Significantly, Rodríguez was reaffirmed as the President of the National Assembly, a position he has held since January 5, 2021. During his tenure, the Assembly has held over 300 sessions and approved 100 laws aimed at protecting the country, strengthening popular power, and institutional recovery. Recently passed laws include the Law for the Protection of Navigation and Trade Freedoms Against Piracy, Blockades, and Other International Illicit Acts.

In Monday’s session, parliamentarians voiced strong opposition against the military aggression perpetrated by Washington against the Bolivarian nation, which constitutes a blatant violation of national sovereignty, the UN Charter, and international law.

As outlined in Article 5 of the Parliament’s Internal Rules and Debates, the oldest legislator, Fernando Soto Rojas, was tasked with opening the session.

In his opening speech, Soto Rojas remarked, “The country and the world are going through a special, complex, and demanding situation; the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, has been kidnapped by the United States government in a barbaric and cowardly attack, a fascist assault by Yankee imperialism, the main enemy of the Venezuelan people, the region, and the world, but our people will overcome this situation.” He added that in light of this crisis, the highest court in the country ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the presidency.

After denouncing the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, Soto Rojas pointed out the absence of the so-called “first combatant,” Cilia Flores, referring to the empty seat she occupies in Parliament as a deputy, which triggered applause from his colleagues and guests present in the session.

“The President of the U.S. aims to be the prosecutor, judge, and police of the world and from Venezuela we say to the world: ‘He cannot do it, and we will develop all solidarity to ensure our President Nicolás Maduro returns victorious. Our people will overcome this situation as a Venezuelan nation,’” he declared.

Maduro Guerra: “The National Assembly is an Instrument to Promote Peace”

In a speech filled with emotion and political resolve, Deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra addressed the current situation of the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife, Cilia Flores, who have been kidnapped by the U.S. government under Donald Trump’s command.

“They may have kidnapped the president and the first lady, but they have not kidnapped a free people,” the parliamentarian asserted, urging the assembly to work with “intelligence and audacity” for their swift release.

“Nicolás Maduro Moros is our president, but he is also a father, a worker, an educator from whom I learned to strive and fight; he is a loving grandfather, a loyal companion, and a great friend. Cilia Flores is an extraordinary woman, a devoted mother and grandmother, a remarkable legal professional who has not lost a case in 20 years of practice. She is also a university professor and an exemplary grandmother. Knowing them deeply, I assure you they are two great human beings whose only ‘crime’ is being Venezuelan revolutionaries who protect and love their country, who will not surrender or sell out. From them, I learned the serenity we see in the president, the peace that gives us firm hope that truth will prevail. That is why I have full faith as a believer in our Almighty God, the true owner, master, and lord of Venezuela; no one but God holds the fate of Venezuela in His hands, and sooner or later, they will be with us,” he expressed before the assembly.

In a direct message to his father, the deputy claimed: “The homeland is in good hands, Dad. Soon we will embrace again,” reaffirming Parliament’s commitment to peace and respect for international law.

“International law has been trampled, disdained, and violated in every sense. International law does not protect positions or symbols; it protects human beings. A president does not cease to be a father, grandfather, and citizen because he exercises the sovereignty of his people. Those who violate this right not only attack Venezuela but also fundamental principles of humanity that the world vowed to defend after the tragedies of the last century. International law was not born to justify the force of the most powerful, but to contain it; it represents a civilizational achievement of humanity to prevent the law of the jungle from replacing reason. When this right is violated, we are not facing just another political conflict; we are confronted with a dangerous regression for the entire world order,” he outlined.

He clarified that President Nicolás Maduro is not a temporary leader but part of a historical lineage forged in the struggle for independence and the dignity of peoples.

“He was trained by Hugo Chávez in the ethics of responsibility, in the consciousness of sacrifice, and in the certainty that the homeland is always above any personal interest. For this reason, even in the face of the most serious aggression, we know and see that he will remain firm, serene, and equal to the historical challenge he must assume. He knows his role in history and has shown us the sign of victory we need to progress and prevail. They do not kidnap a man; they are challenging a historical lineage, and if they are Monroe, we are Simón Bolívar,” he emphasized.

He warned that with the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe from the threat posed by Donald Trump’s government.

“Today it is Venezuela; tomorrow it could be any nation that chooses not to submit. This is not a regional issue; it is a direct threat to global political stability, humanity, and the sovereign equality of nations. Today, the world and its peoples with their governments must make a decision: to raise our voices for peace, for the respect of international law, for sovereignty, and for our right to exist,” he indicated, stressing that “international solidarity with Nicolás, with Cilia, and with Venezuela is not an optional political gesture; it is an ethical and legal duty,” as silence in the face of these violations “compromises those who remain silent and weakens the international system.”

In his speech, the parliamentarian noted that alongside the physical and legal aggression from Washington, an attempt to impose a war of narratives would be made.

“This is nothing new; this is how they have historically operated, distorting the truth, fabricating lies, and seeking to demoralize peoples who choose to be free. Venezuela is not naive; we know these practices, and we are not surprised. The Venezuelan people are not shocked by the lies; they anticipate them and defeat them with an invincible weapon: the truth.… Lies are the historical weapon of imperialism, but this time they encountered a profoundly conscious people, educated thanks to Chávez and Maduro, with a solid historical memory.”

Against this backdrop, the deputy highlighted that the Venezuelan people are not manipulable or forgetful. “There is too much awareness here, too much organization, and too much clarity about what is at stake, and those who fight deserve victory; political awareness neutralizes imperial propaganda, and the Bolivarian revolution does not depend on a moment or circumstance. It is a solid political project, inherited from Commander Chávez, sustained by Nicolás Maduro, with functioning institutions and a collective leadership that knows perfectly the role it must play in every historical circumstance.”

Maduro Guerra asserted that the goal of Chavismo is to maintain the permanent and conscious mobilization of the people in defense of the Bolivarian project that currently leads the country’s institutions legitimately.

“This is not a mobilization of hatred, but of conviction; it is not born from desperation, but from historical clarity. Today, I have come with our Bolivarian cause to speak from the heart about Venezuela’s deepest aspiration: to continue down the path of peace, peaceful coexistence to guarantee our right to development, free from external threats and with balanced and respectful international relations. We do not ask for anything complex; we ask to be left in peace so that our republican, sovereign, free, and independent institutions can function normally, for our economy to grow, and for our people to live happily,” he clarified.

“We deserve peace. In that collective desire, the world must recognize that the National Assembly is an instrument of the Venezuelan people that has served, will continue to serve, and will serve to promote internal peace and cooperation among countries. This sovereign institution is essential for living free from threats and for promoting respect and international cooperation which are always necessary for peaceful coexistence,” he underscored.

Unwavering Support for Delcy Rodríguez

In his speech, Nicolás Maduro Guerra extended a call for unity within the government to achieve the release of his father and wife.

“Let us fight with intelligence and audacity to achieve the release of President Nicolás Maduro and Deputy Cilia Flores. I am a militant willing to serve in the comprehensive defense of the higher interests of our people and our Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I am convinced that with unity and more unity, we will prevail. They may have kidnapped Nicolás and Cilia, but they have not kidnapped the consciousness of a people that has decided to be free,” he declared.

At the same time, he expressed his total support for the acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, who has taken charge of the country following the kidnapping of the president.

“To you, Delcy Eloína, my unwavering support for the difficult task ahead of you. Count on me, count on my family, count on our resolve to take the right steps under this responsibility that now falls to you, and we stand firm in unity,” he affirmed.

Below, you can watch the complete address by Deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra.