MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez promotes 147 Bolivarian officers including the first woman admiral

Admiral Maniglia is congratulated by President Chavez

Venezuelan head of state Hugo Chavez presided over the ceremony in which 147 Bolivarian National Armed Forces, FANB, officers were promoted to the ranks of general and admiral, including the first woman to hold the highest naval rank.

Carmen Melendez de Maniglia is the first woman to hold the rank of admiral in Venezuela’s history, the president said.

“Admiral Maniglia, first Venezuelan woman to make the rank of admiral, that deserves a round of applause for Venezuelan women,” Chavez said during a ceremony earlier this week at the Bolivarian Military University that was carried live by state-owned Venezolana de Television, or VTV.

Chavez said he was aware of the “insane critics” who have been ripping him for handing out military promotions ahead of the presidential elections.

“You hear things, including from some who once served as generals in the armed forces ... things, like that I’m giving away ranks as if you didn’t deserve these promotions, of course you deserve them,” Chavez said.

“The national bourgeoisie ... has always detested” the military, the president said.

The Venezuelan president was accompanied at the event by Defence Minister Henry Rangel and Jose Vicente Rangel, a former defence and foreign minister.