Diosdado Cabello is the new Minister of Interior and Justice

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced changes to his cabinet on Tuesday, including the appointment of Diosdado Cabello as the new Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, as well as the ratification of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was appointed Minister of Petroleum.

“Venezuela is heading towards a definitive peace, a peace with justice, a peace where the people feel that justice is applied to those who have acted against the Constitution and the law,” said Cabello, the only member of the cabinet who spoke after the appointments.

Cabello, a retired army captain and first vice president of the ruling party, has held various government posts since former President Hugo Chavez came to power, with whom he participated in the failed coup attempt in 1992.

He has been governor, deputy, vice president and Minister of the Interior of Venezuela. In the National Assembly he has promoted controversial laws, including one that activists consider to be an attack on non-governmental organizations and civic space in the country.

Maduro, who was re-elected for a third term a month ago according to questionable results issued by the electoral authority, recalled that Cabello helped Chavez “consolidate peace” in a time of protests against his government. “He knows a lot about peace, peace, he knows a lot about justice,” he said.

The changes come amid reports of escalating repression and persecution of dissidents in Venezuela, where more than 2,000 people were arrested earlier this month following protests against election results that in several cases led to violence.

Maduro also confirmed Vladimir Padrino López as Minister of Defense, Yvan Gil as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Freddy Ñañez as Minister of Communication.

He also appointed Héctor Obregón as president of the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), replacing Pedro Tellechea, who will now head the Ministry of Industry and National Production.

General Menry Fernández is the new Minister of Agriculture and Lands; Leticia Gómez takes over as Minister of Tourism and Anabel Fernández Pereira as Minister of Finance and Foreign Trade.

Eduardo Piñate and Héctor Rodríguez are leaving the governorships of the states of Apure and Miranda and are becoming the new ministers of Labor and Education, respectively. Deputy Ricardo Sánchez is now the head of the Ministry of Higher Education and Ernesto Villegas remains at the head of the Ministry of Culture.

The president confirmed Juan Carlos Loyo as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Héctor Silva as Minister of Ecological Mining Development and Leal Tellería as Minister of Food.

In addition, Luis Villegas remains at the head of the Ministry of National Commerce and Clara Vidal as Minister of Indigenous Peoples; Ángel Prado is Minister of Communes and Social Movements, and Julio García in the Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs.

Jhoana Carrillo will be in charge of the Ministry of Women; Carlos Masjustin will be Minister of Water; Raúl Paredes, Minister of Housing and Habitat, and Juan José Ramírez, Minister of Public Works.

Grecia Colmenarez is the new Minister for Youth and Arnaldo Sánchez will be the new Minister for Sports.

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