Minister Héctor Rodríguez at a women's meeting: Venezuela is called to rethink politics

Published at: 22/01/2026 10:48 PM

This Thursday, January 22, at the Andrés Bello National House of Letters, in Caracas, the Women's Meeting for Cilia and Nicolás was held, a space where they ratified their commitment to the defense of the sovereignty of Venezuela.

The sectoral vice-president for Social and Territorial Socialism, Héctor Rodríguez, heard the feelings of women, as well as expressions of support for the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro and the first lady Cilia Flores.

In this regard, he emphasized that Venezuelan women and women are living through “very difficult, very hard times, crazy times, without rules, historic times.”

“I was talking about this with President Maduro in December and he told me: 'Thank goodness it was our turn, Hector. Can you imagine that this would have happened to a generation that was not patriotic? They would have surrendered the Homeland. ' We have to feel fortunate that these difficult times have been the turn of courageous patriots,” he said.

On the other hand, Rodríguez emphasized that President Maduro always alerted his government team that an attack by the United States could occur. “But the President knew that she and he, Venezuelans, have the spiritual, moral and physical strength to fight this battle,” he said.

“There is a before and after the bombing, and that forces us to rethink politics. Things cannot continue to be done as if nothing had happened here. It's not like we already picked up the glasses and we're leaving. Are we not going to reflect on anything?” , he emphasized.

He recalled that one of the things that changed is that in addition to bombing families, they kidnapped the President and his partner, “they have them there (USA). They give us faith in life, but we are aware of what they (Trump) are capable of, and now we have to act with intelligence. I have a mixture of sadness, fear and anger,” Rodríguez acknowledged.

In her speech, the Minister of Popular Power for Women and Gender Equality, Yelitze Santaella, asserted that the women confirmed their rejection of the armed attack of the United States against the country, which ended with the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady, Cilia Flores, on January 3rd.

“A humble, honest man was viciously kidnapped, but also a Venezuelan hero, our deputy Cilia Flores, who demonstrated her love and loyalty, that we carry all women in our souls and hearts (...) We are in a behavior of protest against these events,” he said.

Dayana Martínez, one of the spokespersons for the meeting and who lives in Tiuna City, also recalled that the bombing of January 3rd marked a phase of fear for her that still affects her.

He said that although he is still frightened by the sound of a motorcycle, he assured that he does not feel the victim of any attack, but he does experience pain due to the violation of Venezuelan soil.

“Our sovereignty was violated, our nation was violated and the President was kidnapped (...) But today we are all Josefa Camejo,” she said.