Delcy Rodríguez, interim president of Venezuela
The resignation of the Minister of Industries and National Production, Alex Saab, a close ally of former president Maduro, was explained as a change with plans for a merger between ministries.
The current interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguezannounced the resignation of the Minister of Industries and National Production, Alex Saaba close ally of President Nicolás Maduro, captured by the United States on January 3.
In a message published on Friday on the Telegram platform, Rodríguez explained the change with plans for a merger between the Ministry of Industries and National Production and the Ministry of National Commerce.
The “new entity” will be headed by Luis Antonio Villegaswho had served as Minister of National Trade since he was appointed by Maduro, in February 2024.
“Thanks to my colleague Alex Saab for services rendered to the nation; he will now take on new responsibilities”, said Delcy Rodríguez about the director, a Venezuelan born in Colombia.
Arrested in 2020, in Cape VerdeSaab was later extradited to the US, where he was accused of creating a scheme to divert food aid for the benefit of Maduro and the Government of Caracas.
The businessman, born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and of Lebanese descentwas exchanged in December 2023 for ten Americans imprisoned in Venezuela, through a pardon signed by then US President Joe Biden. In March 2024, U.S. courts rejected the accusations contra Saab.
In December 2024, Saab was appointed Minister of Industry. Before his appointment, he served as president of the Venezuelan International Center for Productive Investment.
Also on Friday, Rodríguez appointed three new ministers for the protection of Communication and Information, Transport and Eco-socialism.
The Vice Admiral Aníbal Coronado is the new Minister of Transport, while Freddy Ñáñez will “promote public policies to protect Mother Earth (Pachamama) and all environmental issues”, said the head of state.
The philosopher and writer Miguel Pérez Pirela is the new minister for Communication and Information. “His academic training, experience and conviction will continue to strengthen the fight for communication in defense of truth in Venezuela”, argued Rodríguez.
Since assuming the interim presidency, following the capture of President Maduro during the US military attack in Venezuela, Rodríguez has begun a ‘exploratory’ process to resume relations with the USA.
The interim government, which Trump claims is under Washington’s protectionagreed to send millions of barrels of crude to the US for sale and opened the oil industry to foreign investment with the support of the Republican executive.
On January 3, US military forces and three regions close to the capital captured Nicolás Maduro, who was taken to New York, where he will be tried for charges related to narcoterrorism.
The then executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed the interim presidency two days after the attack, by order of the Supreme Court of Justice.
