Delcy Rodriguez replaces Venezuela's Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino
Mar 19, 2026
Caracas [Venezuela], March 19: Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez has announced that she is replacing the country's longtime defence minister, General Vladimir Padrino, a central figure from the administration of former President Nicolas Maduro.
Rodriguez announced the high-level departure in a post on Wednesday on the social media platform Telegram.
"We thank Vladimir Padrino Lopez for his loyalty to the homeland and for having been, for all of these years, the first soldier in the defence of our country," Rodriguez said.
She added that Padrino would be given unspecified "new responsibilities". No explanation was given for the change.
Padrino's departure is the latest cabinet-level shake-up in the Venezuelan government since January 3. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
