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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

December 16, 1378

Why Is Venezuela’s Maduro Shuffling His Cabinet?

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week made several cabinet changes. Among them, he put Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in charge of the oil ministry. // File Photo: Venezuelan Government.

Q

  • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Aug. 27 shook up his cabinet and named a new leader for state oil company PDVSA. Among the cabinet changes, which came a month after the country’s disputed presidential election, Maduro named Anabel Pereira as finance minister and Hector Obregón as the new head of PDVSA. Maduro also put Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in charge of the oil ministry and tapped ruling party leader Diosdado Cabello as the new interior, justice and peace minister. What motives were behind the cabinet shake-up? What changes might the new officials bring? What will the change in the leadership of PDVSA mean for the company?  

A

Patrick Duddy, senior advisor for global affairs at Duke University and former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela: “The two most significant cabinet changes that Nicolás Maduro announced on Aug. 27 were the appointments of Diosdado Cabello as minister of interior, justice and peace; and of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to become oil minister while continuing in her role as vice president. The most important cabinet minister to retain his position was General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, the minister of defense. All three have previously been sanctioned by the United States as have Maduro, his wife and more than 100 other Venezuelans. The cabinet changes seem intended to send several messages. First, to the Venezuelan public, Maduro is trying to signal his confidence that…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
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