MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela’s top ministers step down to run in September congressional election

Faced with growing difficulties in the economy, inflation, scarcity of food staples, several months long power shortage with recurrent blackouts plus the usual social unrest and lack of security have

President Hugo Chavez overhauled his cabinet replacing seven ministers so they can seek legislative seats in Venezuela’s September congressional elections, the government announced Wednesday.

Faced with growing difficulties in the economy, inflation, scarcity of food staples, several months long power shortage with recurrent blackouts plus the usual social unrest and lack of security have forced Chavez to send his best and closest aides to the electoral arena.

Chavez eliminated the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, created less than six years ago, in favour of two new departments: Transport and Communications, to be headed by Francisco Garces; and Housing and Habitat, under Ricardo Antonio Molina.

Public works and housing minister and a confident of Chavez, Diosdado Cabello is leaving to run for a congressional seat representing the eastern state of Monagas.

Creation of the two new ministries is aimed at improving “the effectiveness and efficiency of attention to the public in the areas of housing and habitat, transport and communications and the related public services,” according to the announcement in the Official Gazette.
Other changes include the appointment of Maria Isabella Godoy as presidential chief of staff in lieu of Luis Reyes Reyes, who tops the ruling PSUV party’s electoral list in the western state of Lara.

The minister of communication and information, Tania Diaz, stepped to down to run for congress from Caracas and was succeeded by Mauricio Eduardo Rodriguez Gelfenstein.

Jennifer Josefina Gil Laya replaces Hector Navarro, now PSUV congressional candidate in the central state of Miranda, as minister of education. Also departing to run for the National Assembly are the ministers of sport and social protection and the head of the Office of Women and Gender Equality.

The duties of the director of the National Land Institute, Juan Carlos Loyo, will expand to include managing the agriculture portfolio, held until now by Vice President Elias Jaua.

Venezuela’s National Assembly is currently dominated by Chavez supporters, due mainly to an opposition boycott of the last round of legislative elections. However opposition parties now appear ready to take part in September’s ballot.