Venezuela Sees Cabinet Changes Amid Post-Maduro Transition Talks
Caracas is undergoing a period of significant political change following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. Authorities nearly a month ago. , Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, announced a series of cabinet appointments, including the controversial selection of Daniella Cabello as the new Minister of Tourism.
Daniella Cabello is the daughter of Diosdado Cabello, a prominent figure within the ruling Chavismo movement. Rodríguez stated via Telegram, “I have decided to designate the young Daniella Cabello as the new Minister of Popular Power for Tourism, who will now assume responsibility for promoting the development and promotion of the National Tourism System.”
The appointment of Cabello comes despite existing U.S. Sanctions. She was sanctioned in November of last year, along with 20 other Venezuelan officials, for allegedly “supporting and executing measures of the Maduro regime considered antidemocratic, especially for the repression of civil society.” These sanctions include the freezing of assets, a ban on entering the United States, and restrictions on business dealings with U.S. Individuals and companies.
Rodríguez also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Tourism Minister, Leticia Gómez, “for her valuable work at the head of this important portfolio,” and asserted that Venezuela remains “open to the world.”
Since being sworn in as acting president on , Rodríguez has been implementing a series of ministerial changes, impacting portfolios including Transportation, Communication, Environment, Health, and the Presidential Office, as well as military designations.
On , just three days after Maduro’s capture, Rodríguez announced the appointment of Calixto Ortega, a former president of the Central Bank, as the new Vice President of Sectoral Economy.
Concurrent with Ortega’s appointment, Rodríguez also removed Javier Marcano Tábata from his position as head of Maduro’s security detail, replacing him with General Gustavo González López as commander of the Presidential Honor Guard and head of the Military Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM).
Rodríguez’s assumption of the presidency followed a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during U.S. Operations on .
In the wake of these developments, the interim government has initiated “exploratory” talks to re-establish relations with Washington. Venezuela has also agreed to ship millions of barrels of crude oil to the U.S. For commercialization and has opened its oil industry to foreign investment, spurred by the current Republican administration.
These actions signal a potential shift in Venezuela’s political and economic landscape as the country navigates a period of transition following Maduro’s capture and engages in discussions regarding a “transition” with the United States, as reported earlier.