Nicolas Maduro has appointed Pedro Terecha, president of state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), as the new oil minister after the irrevocable resignation of Tarek El Aissami amid a corruption scandal.
The President of Venezuela announced through social networks, “The transformational process the industry is going through”.
“I was meeting with an engineer who is the president of PDVSA. Pedro Telecha , within the framework of the industry’s ongoing transformation process, I have appointed him as the new Oil Minister. Your most efficient partner! ’” wrote Maduro.
The publication shared some photos of the Venezuelan top authority’s meeting with the new head of the portfolio.
according to Deutsche Welledirected by Telechea PDVSA Last Friday, January 6, he replaced Asdrúbal Chavez, who had been in charge of the State Enterprise for almost two years.
Corruption case
Maduro recently announced the restructuring of state-owned enterprises after learning of various corruption cases. El Aisami submitted his letter of resignation, which was eventually accepted.
According to the president, his government has adopted a “vertical, frontal and absolute stance in the fight against corruption”, according to remarks made at a meeting with the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
“We have dealt the first blow to gangsters, gangsters. I have the absolute will and determination to go to the root to dismantle all these gangsters found red-handed.” he added.
In that sense Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office has not ruled out a request for a new arrest warrant. Prosecutor Tarek William Saab said, “There are certainly new elements coming that will take us to others, and that will be reported in a timely manner.”
Opposition reaction
But opposition party Juan Guaidó, who is set to run in the primary to pick Maduro’s rival in the 2024 election, has directly targeted the current Venezuelan president.
through releasePopular Will accused Maduro of confirming what was happening with PDVSA. “He bears sole responsibility for the complex humanitarian crisis this country is experiencing.”
In the document, the party said various civil servants, including the resigned El Aissami, “More than $3 billion” of PDVSA. However, they affirm, “The truth is that the number has been stolen 100 times during all these years.”
“This case exposes a corrupt dictatorship that for years has blamed the crisis in Venezuela on individual sanctions against corrupt officials and groups of human rights abusers. We are responsible for experiencing a social catastrophe,” they point out.
Source: Biobiochile
