How will Venezuela’s earthquakes affect Delcy Rodríguez’s government?

Two powerful earthquakes, with reported magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, have struck Venezuela. The quakes have already claimed the lives of over 160 victims, but the final toll is likely to be much higher. Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency.

Tiziano Breda, Latin America and the Caribbean Senior Analyst at ACLED, said: 

“This national emergency will certainly be a defining moment for the Rodríguez administration. A disaster of this scale presents an opportunity to consolidate her position as a national leader rather than simply as Maduro’s caretaker successor. The easing of relations with the United States and European countries could also make it easier for external partners to mobilize humanitarian aid and reconstruction support. 

“But handling this crisis will be challenging. Any perceived mishandling of the response, including corruption, delays, or the politicization of aid distribution, could trigger unrest among an increasingly exhausted population. Many Venezuelans saw Maduro’s removal as an opening to express discontent with the country’s political and economic situation more freely: ACLED records more than 1,400 protests in the first half of 2026, more than double the total for all of 2025.

“If Rodríguez’s legitimacy rested on her ability to attract foreign investment and restart Venezuela’s shattered economy, the devastation caused by the earthquakes has made it a steep uphill battle.”