Maduro replaces Venezuela's longtime oil chief [View all]
Maduro replaces Venezuela's longtime oil chief
Published: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 9:45 p.m.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Nicolas Maduro has replaced the Venezuela's longtime oil minister and economic czar as part of a cabinet shakeup sidelining the most-prominent voice within his administration for much-needed reforms to address the country's economic crisis.
Rafael Ramirez had served as oil minister and president of the state-run oil giant PDVSA for more than a decade.
Maduro made the announcement Tuesday night as part of a much-anticipated government restructuring. The president named Ramirez the new foreign minister.
Ramirez will be replaced in his previous jobs by lesser-known officials. He was also forced to give up his year-old post as top economic policy maker, from which he had argued for a currency overhaul and unpopular gas price hikes to help Venezuela tackle an economic crisis marked by 60 percent inflation.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20140903/API/309039967
(Short article, no more at link.)
= new reply since forum marked as read