Delcy Rodríguez appointed General-in-Chief Vladimir Padrino López, former Minister of Defense, as the new Minister for Productive Agriculture and Lands. The governor in charge announced the appointment through her official Telegram channel.
In the message, Rodríguez highlighted the general’s career and assigned him the responsibility of directing the agricultural portfolio.
“From now on, it assumes the commitment to boost agricultural production to guarantee national supply and contribute to the country’s new diversified economic model,” he wrote.
The person in charge of the Presidency also spoke to the outgoing minister, Julio León Heredia, who she said will “fulfill new responsibilities.”
Padrino López left the Ministry of Defense, a position he held continuously from October 2014 to March 2026. With this decision, the senior officer becomes the head of the ministry responsible for agricultural production, land distribution and productive policies in the sector.
The departure of Padrino López from the Ministry of Defense occurred within the framework of a restructuring of the high military leadership that Rodríguez promoted after assuming the presidency in charge, after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by the United States military.
General Gustavo González López assumed office as the new Minister of Defense. So far, the specific priorities that Padrino López will promote in his new position have not been detailed. His appointment represents a significant change: one of the most influential soldiers in recent years now heads a key ministry in the country’s economic and productive area.
