YvĂĄn Gil, the new Venezuelan minister for foreign affairs (left), and Pedro Rafael Tellechea, the new president of PDVSA (right). Photo composition: Orinoco Tribune.
On Friday, January 6, the president of Venezuela, NicolĂĄs Maduro, announced the appointment of Pedro Rafael Tellechea as the new president of PDVSA (PetrĂłleos de Venezuela) replacing AsdrĂşbal ChĂĄvez, and YvĂĄn Gil Pinto as the new foreign affairs minister, replacing Carlos FarĂa. He also appointed AnĂbal Coronado as the new head of government of Francisco de Miranda Insular Territory.
President Maduro stated that Pedro Rafael Tellechea has extensive experience at the head of Pequiven, the Venezuelan state petrochemical industry, belonging to the PDVSA holding. The president said that Tellechea “will consolidate the momentum of the national oil industry.” He also thanked the outgoing president of PDVSA, AsdrĂşbal ChĂĄvez for his management of the industry, and added that he “will soon have new responsibilities.”
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Regarding the newly appointed foreign minister, YvĂĄn Gil Pinto, President Maduro stated that he will carry out this new responsibility “with great professionalism.” He also thanked Carlos FarĂa “for his outstanding work,” and added that “he will have new tasks in the coming days.”
He designado a YvĂĄn Gil Pinto, nuevo canciller de Venezuela, una responsabilidad que estoy seguro que desempeĂąarĂĄ con gran profesionalismo. Agradezco a Carlos Faria por su destacada labor, en los prĂłximos dĂas le vendrĂĄn nuevas tareas. pic.twitter.com/l6xoyIarbs
— NicolĂĄs Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) January 6, 2023
After appointing AnĂbal Coronado as the head of the government of Francisco de Miranda Insular Territory, compromising all the Venezuelan islands in the Caribbean, President Maduro stated that it is a region “with great potential that must be promoted as a strategic area for national development. His [Coronado] experience will be vital for this work.”
Said insular territory is an administrative division that comprises the central sector of the federal dependencies of Venezuela (archipelagos of Los Roques, La Orchila and Las Aves, among others). The division was created by special law in 2011.
PDVSA serĂĄ presidida por Pedro Rafael Tellechea, quien con su gran experiencia al frente de PEQUIVEN, consolidarĂĄ el impulso de la industria petrolera nacional. Todo nuestro reconocimiento a la labor de AsdrĂşbal ChĂĄvez quien pronto tendrĂĄ nuevas responsabilidades. pic.twitter.com/V5HCGPWPo6
— NicolĂĄs Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) January 6, 2023
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Since the replacement of former minister of foreign affairs of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza, who remained in the post for more than 4 years, from August 2017 until August 2021, the Venezuelan foreign office has had two ministers in less than 17 months.
FĂŠlix Plasencia led the ministry for nine months, from August 2021 to May 2022, followed by Jesus FarĂa for eight months, from May 2022 to January 2023. Many experts consider this lack of strong leadership in a ministry of such importance as a setback that might affect Venezuela’s foreign relations in a complex but promising regional and international scenario.
Although it is expected that YvĂĄn Gil will carry out his charge admirably, some analysts opine that his technical background and lack of political leadership might represent a continuation of the trend initiated some two years ago with the appointment of FĂŠlix Plasencia.
(Alba Ciudad) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SC
