Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a delegation will travel to Washington this week to reestablish diplomatic presence. US Treasury Department issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan missions.

Ramon Maniglia Confirmed as Ambassador to Colombia

National Assembly approved Maniglia Ferreira as envoy to Bogota, replacing Carlos Martinez. Rodriguez government moves to normalize regional diplomatic posture.

Ernesto Villegas Withdraws Candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo Post

Former minister retracted nomination after controversy over his role disseminating state propaganda about Juan Pablo Pernalete's 2017 death. National Assembly extended candidate review 48 hours.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Ernesto Villegas withdrew his candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo 24 March following sustained controversy over his apology for systematically lying about the 2017 death of protester Juan Pablo Pernalete. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a diplomatic delegation will travel to Washington this week to reopen Venezuela's embassy, hours after the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan diplomatic missions on U.S. soil. The Asamblea Nacional extended the Amnistia oversight commission 30 days and designated Arianny Seijo Noguera as Procuradora General after Reinaldo Munoz resigned. State media reported 8,084 "libertades plenas" granted under amnistia, while Foro Penal documented 503 political prisoners as of 23 March. END SUMMARY.

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Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a delegation will travel to Washington this week to reestablish diplomatic presence. US Treasury Department issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan missions.

Ramon Maniglia Confirmed as Ambassador to Colombia

National Assembly approved Maniglia Ferreira as envoy to Bogota, replacing Carlos Martinez. Rodriguez government moves to normalize regional diplomatic posture.

Ernesto Villegas Withdraws Candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo Post

Former minister retracted nomination after controversy over his role disseminating state propaganda about Juan Pablo Pernalete's 2017 death. National Assembly extended candidate review 48 hours.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Ernesto Villegas withdrew his candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo 24 March following sustained controversy over his apology for systematically lying about the 2017 death of protester Juan Pablo Pernalete. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a diplomatic delegation will travel to Washington this week to reopen Venezuela's embassy, hours after the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan diplomatic missions on U.S. soil. The Asamblea Nacional extended the Amnistia oversight commission 30 days and designated Arianny Seijo Noguera as Procuradora General after Reinaldo Munoz resigned. State media reported 8,084 "libertades plenas" granted under amnistia, while Foro Penal documented 503 political prisoners as of 23 March. END SUMMARY.

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Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a delegation will travel to Washington this week to reestablish diplomatic presence. US Treasury Department issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan missions.

Ramon Maniglia Confirmed as Ambassador to Colombia

National Assembly approved Maniglia Ferreira as envoy to Bogota, replacing Carlos Martinez. Rodriguez government moves to normalize regional diplomatic posture.

Ernesto Villegas Withdraws Candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo Post

Former minister retracted nomination after controversy over his role disseminating state propaganda about Juan Pablo Pernalete's 2017 death. National Assembly extended candidate review 48 hours.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Ernesto Villegas withdrew his candidacy for Defensor del Pueblo 24 March following sustained controversy over his apology for systematically lying about the 2017 death of protester Juan Pablo Pernalete. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced a diplomatic delegation will travel to Washington this week to reopen Venezuela's embassy, hours after the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 53 authorizing transactions for Venezuelan diplomatic missions on U.S. soil. The Asamblea Nacional extended the Amnistia oversight commission 30 days and designated Arianny Seijo Noguera as Procuradora General after Reinaldo Munoz resigned. State media reported 8,084 "libertades plenas" granted under amnistia, while Foro Penal documented 503 political prisoners as of 23 March. END SUMMARY.

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Acting President Delcy Rodriguez inaugurated a memorial at Cementerio General del Sur honoring those killed during the January 3 events that preceded Maduro's capture.

Rodriguez Announces 45-Day Electricity Rationing Plan

Government announced electricity saving measures as extreme temperatures and recurring blackouts impact western states, particularly ahead of forecast drought and heatwave.

Trump Elogizes Rodriguez, Seeks Similar Leadership for Iran

President Donald Trump praised Rodriguez administration's cooperation, stating he wants someone like her governing Iran and highlighting petroleum agreements.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump extended his deadline for strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure 23 March and cited Acting President Delcy Rodriguez as a model for Iranian governance, stating "we're doing great in Venezuela with the oil and the relationship with the elected president." Separately, Ernesto Villegas — candidate for Defensor del Pueblo — issued a public apology for systematically lying about the 2017 death of Juan Pablo Pernalete during protests, stating he seeks "forgiveness" and wants "no more dead or prisoners." Tens of thousands of Venezuelan workers, jubilados, and teachers marched 23 March demanding salary increases despite police cordons and competing pro-government mobilizations led by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello that blocked access to the Ministry of Labor. END SUMMARY.

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Delcy Rodriguez designated commanders for all eight Regional Strategic Defense Integral Commands March 20, completing her military overhaul after dismissing Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez.

SEBIN Detains Shipping Magnate Wilmer Ruperti at El Helicoide

Intelligence service detained petroleum entrepreneur Wilmer Ruperti March 19 after summoning him; his security team released but Ruperti remains without disclosed charges, attorneys confirmed.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Acting President Delcy Rodriguez designated new commanders for all eight Regiones Estratégicas de Defensa Integral (REDIs) 20 March, completing a comprehensive reorganization of Venezuela's military command structure following her dismissal of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez. SEBIN detained petroleum entrepreneur Wilmer Ruperti 19 March after summoning him to El Helicoide, according to his legal team at Winston & Strawn, which confirmed to Reuters he remains in custody with no charges disclosed. Venezuelan human rights organizations released assessments concluding the amnesty law functions as a "legal mirage" — 689 political prisoners remain detained one month after promulgation, with tribunals systematically denying relief and maintaining punitive control mechanisms. END SUMMARY.

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Former Chevron Latin America chief Ali Moshiri reportedly recommended to CIA maintaining Delcy Rodriguez as leader post-Maduro capture, Wall Street Journal and El Pitazo reported.

Rodriguez Announces 300 Million Dollars from Fuel Oil Sales for Worker Wages

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced 300 million dollars in revenue from fuel oil sales intended to increase worker incomes, TalCual Digital reported.

Rodriguez Rejects Petro Zero-Tariff Proposal Citing U.S. Sanctions Impact

Delcy Rodriguez rejected Colombian President Gustavo Petro's zero-tariff proposal, stating Venezuelan people remain under sanctions, El Nacional reported.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Acting President Delcy Rodriguez replaced the commanders of the Armada, Aviation, and Milicia Bolivariana on 19 March, completing a sweeping reorganization of Venezuela's military leadership following the ouster of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez. The moves consolidate Rodriguez's control over the armed forces but place human rights-accused officials in key posts. The U.S. Department of State reduced Venezuela's travel advisory from Level 4 to Level 3, citing improved security conditions in most areas while maintaining maximum warnings for six states. The Asamblea Nacional advanced mining reform legislation with minimal opposition pushback, opening the sector to private investment. Approximately 40 political prisoners were released during the reporting period, though relatives staged protests denouncing inhumane detention conditions and demanding broader application of the amnesty law. END SUMMARY.

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Former Chevron Latin America chief Ali Moshiri reportedly recommended to CIA maintaining Delcy Rodriguez as leader post-Maduro capture, Wall Street Journal and El Pitazo reported.

Rodriguez Announces 300 Million Dollars from Fuel Oil Sales for Worker Wages

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced 300 million dollars in revenue from fuel oil sales intended to increase worker incomes, TalCual Digital reported.

Rodriguez Rejects Petro Zero-Tariff Proposal Citing U.S. Sanctions Impact

Delcy Rodriguez rejected Colombian President Gustavo Petro's zero-tariff proposal, stating Venezuelan people remain under sanctions, El Nacional reported.

DRIVING THE DAY

SUMMARY: Shell signed a development agreement for PDVSA's Punta de Mata division 9 March, marking a significant oil sector deal days after U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's Caracas visit. The AN gave first-reading approval 9 March to the Organic Law on Mines, with opposition bloc Libertad voting "saved" to preserve second-debate participation rights. SOUTHCOM published imagery 9 March showing F-35 fighters, P-8 patrol aircraft, and KC-46 tankers conducting patrols in Venezuelan airspace as recently as 6 March. Grand Mission Vuelta a la Patria repatriated 134 Venezuelans from Miami — 91 men, 30 women, 13 children. Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa announced 9 March he received formal notification that terrorism charges against him were dismissed by sobreseimiento 7 March. END SUMMARY.

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