Venezuela's Supreme Court has ordered that Vice President Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez assume the presidency of Venezuela in an acting capacity.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice made the ruling on Saturday, January 3rd, citing what it describes as the forced absence of President Nicolas Maduro due to his kidnapping, along with that of First Lady Cilia Flores, by the US military.

The Supreme Court says in a statement that all the powers, duties, and faculties inherent to the office of President of Venezuela are given to the Acting President to guarantee administrative continuity and a comprehensive defence of the Latin American country.

This decision was based on a constitutional interpretation of Articles 234 and 239 of the Constitution of Venezuela, which aimed to establish the appropriate legal framework to ensure the continuity of the State, the management of government, and the defence of sovereignty in the event of the President of the Republic's forced absence.