Overview
- Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday dismissed Vladimir Padrino López, who led the armed forces since 2014 and was a key ally of Nicolás Maduro.
- Rodríguez appointed General Gustavo González López, a former intelligence chief who recently headed the presidential guard and military counterintelligence and previously held roles at PDVSA.
- No reason was given for the shake-up; Rodríguez thanked Padrino for his service and said he would receive unspecified new responsibilities, while Padrino called the post the honor of his life.
- Both the outgoing and incoming defense chiefs have been sanctioned by the United States, with González López also designated by the European Union over alleged rights abuses and corruption.
- The move continues a broader reshuffle following Maduro’s removal, alongside steps such as a general amnesty, the release of hundreds of political prisoners, and the reopening of the U.S. embassy, even as a UN mission warns the repressive apparatus remains in place and the military wields extensive economic power.