Delcy Rodríguez plans to run in the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela, according to her lawyer in the U.S.

Washington.- The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, plans to run in the upcoming presidential elections in the South American country, for which there is still no date, according to the documentation registered by her lawyer in the United States.

Rodríguez on Tuesday registered lawyer Jihad Smaili, with an office in California, to represent her before the US Justice Department, according to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA, in English), which US law requires of lobbyists working in the country for foreign individuals or governments. According to that document, Smaili will represent Rodríguez in pending and future litigation related to the state oil company Pdvsa, with the subsidiary Citgo, and with creditor claims. The lawyer will also provide daily advice on matters related to the White House and the State Department, including recommendations to "strengthen and promote the relationship for the benefit of the Venezuelan people".

U.S. Recognition of Rodríguez's Management

The contract also includes services related to "the future political campaign", that is, "its participation in the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela", as well as efforts aimed at lifting the sanctions.

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Delcy Rodríguiez, who was vice president under Nicolás Maduro, assumed power as acting president of the country after the capture on January 3 of the Chavista leader by US forces, who transferred him to New York to try him for drug trafficking. Since then, the Donald Trump Administration claims to exercise tutelage over the Rodríguez government, which has promoted several changes in the country, such as the opening of the hydrocarbon sector to foreign investment and an amnesty law.

Trump also recognized Rodríguez as head of state of Venezuela and re-established diplomatic relations with Caracas, which had been broken since 2019.

For now, there is no date for the presidential elections in Venezuela and the opposition leader María Corina Machado remains outside the country since she left clandestinely last year to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.