Venezuela's interim president removes Alex Saab as industry minister in cabinet reshuffle
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez has dismissed businessman Alex Saab from his position as minister of industry. The removal was announced on Friday through a Telegram message, with Rodríguez stating the industry portfolio will be merged with the commerce ministry. She thanked Saab for his contributions and indicated he would be given new responsibilities following the reshuffle.
The dismissal comes amid mounting pressure from the United States following a January 3 military operation that resulted in the ouster of former president Nicolás Maduro. This is one of several government adjustments Rodríguez has made since assuming interim leadership.
Saab, a Colombian-born Venezuelan businessman, was released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States. Maduro appointed him as industry minister in October 2024. Saab is a close associate of the ousted leader and was previously arrested in 2020 during a refueling stop in Cape Verde under an Interpol notice accusing him of acting as a front man for Maduro. He was extradited to the United States, where he and a business partner faced charges of operating a network that allegedly exploited food aid intended for Venezuela. After his release, Saab returned to Venezuela and was welcomed in Caracas before taking up his ministerial post.
The cabinet reshuffle signals potential shifts in Venezuela's governance structure under interim leadership. What new direction might Venezuela's government take under this interim administration?