The interim regime of Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela decided to fire this Wednesday (18) the then Chavista Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, a close ally of former dictator Nicolás Maduro, amid the reorganization of military power in the country following the capture of the former regime leader by US forces at the beginning of this year.
According to Rodríguez, General Gustavo González López was appointed to take over the Ministry of Defense, ending more than a decade of Padrino in command of the Venezuelan Armed Forces. The interim leader thanked Padrino for his “loyalty to the country” and stated that he will take on new roles within the Chavista regime, however, she did not detail what his responsibilities will be.
Padrino López was one of the most influential figures in Chavismo and had held the position of Defense Minister since 2014, when he was appointed by Maduro during a period of protests against the regime. Over the years, he became a central part of the alliance between the Chavista dictatorship and the military, considered essential for the regime’s stay in power.
The change in Defense command comes months after the United States military operation that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, an event that enabled a new phase of diplomatic relations between Washington and the Venezuelan interim regime. The White House has closely monitored all decisions made by Delcy Rodríguez.
The new minister, Gustavo González López, has already held strategic positions within the regime, including directing the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), responsible for internal repression, and military counterintelligence. He has also been the target of sanctions from the United States and the European Union for human rights violations and repression of opponents during protests against Chavismo.
Since assuming power on an interim basis, Delcy Rodríguez has already promoted changes in different ministries, in a move interpreted by analysts as an attempt to guarantee the political survival of the regime in the face of US pressure on Caracas.
