Delcy Rodriguez Says No Social Unrest As Venezuela Quake Death Toll Reaches 3,342

Venezuela marked its 215th Independence Day as interim President Delcy Rodriguez sought to project strength during a military service and insisted, "There will be no social unrest here," while the country continued to grapple with grief after the June 24 twin earthquakes.

“Venezuela has marked its 215th Independence Day as citizens continue to grapple with grief following a pair of deadly earthquakes on June 24”

Al Jazeera

Rodriguez said, "There can be no room for any kind of conspiracy, either internal or external," as she accused opponents of trying to undermine Venezuela's institutions during the national emergency.

Al Jazeera

The earthquakes hit with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, and the Ministry of Communication and Information announced 3,342 deaths, with thousands missing and 16,470 injured, while 17,345 people were left without homes.

The political dispute intensified alongside the humanitarian crisis, with opposition leaders and constitutional scholars arguing Rodriguez's interim mandate had entered a period of institutional illegality after it reached the Constitution's 180-day limit.

In parallel, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado demanded a return to Venezuela to help with a "transition process" after the tragedy, framing the quake response as evidence of the "total absence of the state."

Rodriguez used a rare news conference to reject allegations of delay and disorganization, saying rescue crews were activated immediately and that authorities did not wait days to intervene.

She blamed criticism on what she called "narratives manufactured in propaganda laboratories," and insisted, "We did not wait one day, two days or three days. We activated immediately."

AlbertoNews

Machado, speaking to reporters from Panama, said, "My presence stabilizes the situation; it is part of the organizing forces that the country needs," and argued that the country needed "figures it can trust" as her appeal for return escalated.

The AP reported that Machado set up an online database to locate the missing, listing 36,000 people as of Friday, while the opposition movement mobilized volunteers to collect donations in Venezuela and solicit aid from the country’s diaspora.

The political stakes also intersected with U.S. involvement, with AP reporting two senior U.S. officials saying the Trump administration had grown frustrated with Machado and dissuaded her from returning after the earthquakes.

Rodriguez’s interim mandate expired Friday after it reached the Constitution's 180-day limit, and AP described the fallout as a major test for acting President Delcy Rodríguez as her mandate expires.

“Fallout from Venezuela’s earthquakes turns political as opposition leader Machado seeks return Fallout from Venezuela’s earthquakes turns political as opposition leader Machado seeks return CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The fallout from Venezuela’s powerful twin quakes has evolved into a major test for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, sending her scrambling to prevent the humanitarian disaster from becoming a political one as her mandate as interim leader expires Friday”

AP News

The UPI account said Rodriguez assumed the interim presidency Jan. 3 after the removal and capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation under the legal doctrine of a "forced absence," approved by the Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice.

UPI also reported that critics argued the Constitution's 180-day limit for a temporary presidency expired automatically, and that extending the interim administration without immediately calling a universal presidential election violates Article 233 of the Constitution.

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, the government announced creation of the Venezuela Reborn Fund backed by $200 million to rebuild parts of La Guaira, Caracas and other areas devastated by the earthquakes.

Even as the humanitarian crisis continued, the political dispute remained tied to the question of what comes next after the mandate expiry, with AP noting that under Venezuela’s constitution temporary absences are to be filled by the vice president for up to 90 days, after which they can be extended by the national assembly for an additional 90 days.