MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela's Chavez reshuffles cabinet after defeat

Mr Chavez insists he will push on with reform plans

President Hugo Chavez shuffled his Cabinet on Thursday, naming a retired military officer as vice president and other changes aimed at tackling corruption and inefficiencies in his socialist government

Ramon Carrizales, currently Venezuela's housing minister, will replace outgoing Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, who will lead an initiative to launch Chavez's socialist party later this month, the Venezuelan leader said in a telephone interview broadcast on state television. In Venezuela, the vice president is appointed directly by the president â€" rather than elected â€" and is part of the Cabinet. The vice president does not wield much power, but would take over the presidency if the sitting president dies or is otherwise unable to fulfill duties. Chavez, a fierce critic of Washington, also appointed Andres Izarra, president of the Caracas-based TV network Telesur, to head the Information Ministry. Other changes include having Socorro Hernandez, currently president of Venezuela's state-run CANTV telephone company, replace Telecommunications Minister Jesse Chacon. Chavez, who has vowed to transform Venezuela into a socialist state, said he plans to make at least 13 changes â€" most still unannounced â€" in his Cabinet. He said his government is seeking to tackle lingering problems such as corruption and inefficiency within state-run institutions. The Venezuelan leader generally overhauls his Cabinet once a year, usually moving close political allies from one ministry to another while handpicking others from the military or state institutions.