Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday (Aug. 27) made major changes to his cabinet, including replacing the leadership of the oil and finance ministries and state-owned oil company PDVSA, after a disputed election in which the ruling and opposition parties both claimed victory.
Anabel Pereira was named the new finance minister, while Hector Obregon was named the new president of PDVSA, replacing Pedro Tellechea, who was named industry minister, Maduro said in an announcement on state television.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez will remain in her post but will serve as oil minister, he added.
Yvan Gil and Vladimir Padrino will remain in their posts as foreign and defense ministers, Maduro said, while ruling party leader Diosdado Cabello will become the new interior, justice and peace minister.
The changes are “a major renovation of the national government, and we are forming a new team, which will help us transition in all areas to a new era, opening new paths… accelerating the changes that the people need,” Maduro said in his announcement.
Cabello, a close ally of Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez, returns to the cabinet after serving as deputy leader of the ruling PSUV party. He is a former vice president and lawmaker who served as interior and justice minister in the early 2000s.
Reuters previously reported, citing three sources, that Maduro would appoint Obregon to head PDVSA and name a new oil minister.
Meanwhile, disputes over the results of the July 28 election have prompted international calls for the release of full results. The dispute has also sparked deadly protests and prompted prosecutors to investigate the opposition and arrest journalists.
Dozens of employees at PDVSA, the oil ministry and other parts of the public service sector have been forced to resign since the election because of their political views, workers and unions say. (jm/ab/rs)
