Caracas .- The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, placed José David Cabello, brother of Chavista leader Diosdado Cabello, in charge of the petrochemical sector this Tuesday, a branch of the hydrocarbon industry, in a context marked by the United States’ expressed interest in the South American country’s oil.
The president, who took office six months ago following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the U.S., makes this announcement as her country faces a catastrophe due to the devastating earthquakes nearly two weeks ago that left more than 3,500 dead and more than 16,700 injured, according to official figures.
On Telegram, Rodríguez announced the appointment of David Cabello as president of the state-owned Petroquímica de Venezuela (Pequiven), after 18 years as superintendent of the National Integrated Service of Customs and Tax Administration (Seniat).
David Cabello “assumes the responsibility of continuing to strengthen this strategic company for the country’s petrochemical, industrial, and productive development” and for the consolidation of the hydrocarbon sector.
Now the head of Seniat will be Román Maniglia, until today president of the Banco de Venezuela, the country’s largest financial institution.
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“We trust in your professionalism and extensive experience to lead this institution, which is fundamental for strengthening tax collection, fiscal discipline, and economic development,” expressed Rodríguez, who ordered him to digitize the tax system.
Other appointments
Hours later, the interim president announced the appointment of Calixto Ortega Sánchez, economic vice president and representative of his country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as president of the Bank of Venezuela.
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In addition, he appointed Alejandro Puglia as head of the governmental International Center for Productive Investment (CIIP), who “assumes the responsibility of continuing to promote the attraction of investments.”
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These announcements are in addition to the changes made by the president on Sunday, when she appointed engineer Francisco Garcés as Minister of Transport, replacing the Chavista Jacqueline Faría, whom she ordered to “lead the recovery efforts for housing and infrastructure” affected by the earthquakes.
Following Maduro’s capture, the interim government led by Rodríguez has collaborated closely with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on matters such as opening strategic Venezuelan sectors, including oil, mining, and electricity, to foreign capital.
