CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥� remained Venezuela鈥檚 acting president on Monday, exceeding the 90-day limit on her temporary role set by the country’s high court following the in January.
However, it’s unclear how much longer she will keep the post as lawmakers have not taken a public vote to extend her term past last Friday鈥檚 deadline.
According to the court order, is still officially Venezuela鈥檚 president and his 鈥渇orced鈥� absence resulting from a 鈥渒idnapping鈥� makes it temporarily impossible for him to fulfill his duties.
Under Venezuela’s constitution, according to an article referenced by the court, temporary absences are to be filled by the vice president 鈥� which was Rodr铆guez鈥檚 former role 鈥� for up to 90 days. These interim appointments can be extended by the national assembly for an additional 90 days.
The National Assembly, controlled by Rodr铆guez鈥檚 party, can trigger a snap election if lawmakers declare the post permanently vacant.
The government鈥檚 press office did not respond to requests for comment.
Ronal Rodr铆guez, a researcher at the Venezuela Observatory in Colombia鈥檚 Universidad del Rosario, said the government, particularly after Maduro took office in 2013, has previously used legal interpretations to remain in power.
鈥淎nd it would be no surprise if they did so again now,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey will most likely try to come up with some kind of explanation, such as it being Good Friday or the way the days were counted, but in the end, everything will be validated by a ruling from the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.鈥�
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured Jan. 3 in Venezuela鈥檚 capital, Caracas, and taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Both have .
Rodr铆guez and other ruling-party leaders have demanded that the pair be released from custody, calling their detention a kidnapping. Billboards and murals across Caracas also echo that same demand.
The Trump administration stunned Venezuelans by choosing to work with Rodr铆guez following Maduro鈥檚 ouster, instead of the country鈥檚 political opposition. She has since led cooperation with the administration鈥檚 phased plan to end Venezuela鈥檚 complex crisis, pitching her to international investors and opening its energy sector to private capital and international arbitration. Rodr铆guez has also replaced senior officials, including and attorney general.
U.S. President Donald Trump has praised her work.
The U.S. Treasury Department last week , while the U.S. State Department last month recognized her as the 鈥渟ole Head of State鈥� of Venezuela.
The United States stopped recognizing Maduro as Venezuela鈥檚 legitimate leader in 2019, the year after in a contest widely considered a sham as opposition parties and candidates were barred from participating.
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