Medellin, Colombia – Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced today that he is firing Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, a longtime ally of Nicolás Maduro.
“We thank G/J (Commander in Chief) Vladimir Padrino López for his dedication and loyalty to his country, and for being the most outstanding soldier in the defense of our country for many years,” Rodriguez wrote to X.
Instead, the president appointed General Gustavo González López, a veteran officer with extensive security and intelligence experience, as the new Minister of Defense. González will lead two key agencies: the Presidential Guard and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM).
Padrino was appointed as Maduro’s new minister in October 2014, making him one of Venezuela’s longest-serving ministers.
Padrino was also a key figure in the failed coup against Chávez in April 2002. He remained loyal to the Chávez regime and refused to join the uprising while commanding an armored unit stationed at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas.
In her statement, Rodriguez also said she was confident Padrino would take on his new responsibilities with the “same dedication and honor” that characterized his trajectory and career. She did not specify what his role will be going forward.
Padrino’s dismissal was part of a wider cabinet reshuffle in which Rodríguez replaced the Minister of Housing and Residence, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labor and Social Processes.
Featured image caption: Delsey Rodriguez.
Featured image source: Russian Government via Wikimedia Commons
