Maduro ratifies Padrino López as Minister of Defense

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduroratified this Monday as Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López, in office since October 2014, while renewing part of the leadership of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and other organizations.

The head of state also confirmed Domingo Hernández Lárez, recently sanctioned by the United States, as strategic operational commander of the FANB.

On Telegram, Maduro reported the appointment of Johan Hernández Lárez as general commander of the Army, Ashraf Abdel Hadi Suleimán Gutiérrez as head of the Navy and Lenín Ramírez as commander of the Military Aviation, while he ratified the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB, militarized police) to Elio Estrada Paredes.

Johan Hernández Lárez and Estrada Paredes are also part of the group of 16 officials, according to the US, “aligned with Maduro”, sanctioned last month by the US Treasury, which accuses them of obstructing “a competitive and inclusive presidential electoral process in Venezuela and “They violated the civil and human rights of the people.”

Padrino López remains in charge

Maduro appointed Orlando Romero commander of the Bolivarian Militia, replacing Javier Tábata, starting today at the head of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim).

Likewise, he appointed Alexis Rodríguez Cabello as head of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin), appointed in December last year as the sole authority of Guayana Esequiba, as Caracas calls the territory in dispute with Guyana, for which at the moment no announcement has been made. substitute.

«I thank those who carried out their work during all this time in the face of the important responsibilities that they carried out impeccably, and I wish success to those who are called to serve. The mission is the same: to continue guaranteeing independence, security and peace,” said Maduro.

Padrino López, sanctioned by the United States since 2018, is the most senior minister of Maduro’s Executive, who came to power in 2013 and was proclaimed by the National Electoral Council (CNE) in the elections of last July 28 as re-elected president for a third consecutive six-year term, a result questioned inside and outside the Caribbean country.

Maduro announces these changes when the country is experiencing a political crisis unleashed after his controversial second re-election, considered fraudulent by the main opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), which demands the victory of its standard-bearer. Edmundo González Urrutia, exiled in Spain.

This Sunday, opposition leader María Corina Machado asked the FANB not to “endorse” “a regime that is on its way out,” in reference to the Maduro government, whom, according to the former deputy, the people “widely defeated” on December 28. July, when he claims that González Urrutia won.

In August, the FANB ratified its “absolute loyalty and subordination” to Maduro, despite the fact that the Constitution states that the Armed Forces are an institution “without political militancy” that is “at the exclusive service of the nation and in no case at the service of an individual.” or any political bias.