Maduro makes changes to Venezuela's government cabinet
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (photo: Getty Images)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose recent reelection has not been recognized by several countries, made significant changes to his cabinet on Tuesday, including leadership positions in the ministries of oil and finance, as well as the state oil company PDVSA, according to Reuters.
Anabel Pereira has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance, and Héctor Obregón will become the new president of PDVSA (Petroleum of Venezuela), replacing Pedro Tellechea, who will head the Ministry of Industry, Maduro announced on state television.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez will retain her position but will also take on the Ministry of Oil, Maduro added. Yván Gil and Vladimir Padrino will remain in their respective roles as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, while Diosdado Cabello, leader of the ruling party, will become the new Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace.
"The cabinet changes are "a profound renovation of the national government and we are putting together a new team which will help us transition everything for this era, open new paths ... speed the changes the people need," Maduro said during an event broadcast live.
Cabello, a close ally of Maduro's predecessor, the late Hugo Chávez, is returning to the cabinet after becoming the second-in-command of the ruling PSUV party (the United Socialist Party of Venezuela). He is a former vice president and legislator, having served as Minister of Interior and Justice in the early 2000s.
Obregón, a lawyer, was appointed to PDVSA's executive board last year as part of his governmental duties, which also include positions at the Ministry of Finance and the Development Bank of Venezuela.
Venezuelan elections
It is worth noting that the United States and the European Union do not recognize the results of the July 28 elections in Venezuela, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner. The opposition has claimed election fraud, leading to widespread protests in the country.
US President Joe Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have called for the Venezuelan government to release detailed voting data from the presidential elections.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the United States is considering offering Maduro a deal to relinquish power in exchange for amnesty.
The European Union has warned that Venezuela could soon face a serious crisis if President Nicolás Maduro fails to prove his victory in the elections.
