This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25754664
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Venezuela: Maduro shakes up top economic team | Venezuela: Maduro shakes up top economic team |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced a shake-up of the team running the country's economy during his annual state of the union address. | Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced a shake-up of the team running the country's economy during his annual state of the union address. |
The current public banking minister, Rodolfo Torres, will replace Nelson Merentes as finance minister. | |
Mr Merentes will take over the post of head of the central bank. | |
Speaking at the National Assembly in Caracas, Mr Maduro vowed to introducer tougher penalties against "sabotage and speculation". | Speaking at the National Assembly in Caracas, Mr Maduro vowed to introducer tougher penalties against "sabotage and speculation". |
His state of the union address - the first since he was elected president in April - was broadcast on live television and radio. | His state of the union address - the first since he was elected president in April - was broadcast on live television and radio. |
"How can you describe someone who hides [from the shelves] formula milk for babies? We cannot create a new euphemism for that. That person must be described as a criminal," said President Maduro. | |
He was referring to Venezuelan shortages in 2013 of several goods including milk, sugar and toilet paper. | He was referring to Venezuelan shortages in 2013 of several goods including milk, sugar and toilet paper. |
The opposition blames the government's anti-business policies and mismanagement of the economy for the crisis. | The opposition blames the government's anti-business policies and mismanagement of the economy for the crisis. |
But Mr Maduro says his government is under attack from powerful right-wing sectors in the country. | |
"While the government makes a big effort to guarantee the quality of some services and the availability of products, the mafias speculate with other products and even medicines," said Mr Maduro. | "While the government makes a big effort to guarantee the quality of some services and the availability of products, the mafias speculate with other products and even medicines," said Mr Maduro. |
'Govern by decree' | |
Although Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, its people are suffering from the highest inflation in Latin America, sluggish growth and shortages. | Although Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, its people are suffering from the highest inflation in Latin America, sluggish growth and shortages. |
In November, Mr Maduro was granted special powers to govern by decree for a year to deal with the economic crisis. | |
His plan to boost economic growth had been "very successful," he told legislators. | His plan to boost economic growth had been "very successful," he told legislators. |
Mr Maduro made several references to late President Hugo Chavez during his long speech. | |
He promised to give continuity to the social policies and radical economic changes that the left-wing leader introduced between 1999 and 2013. | He promised to give continuity to the social policies and radical economic changes that the left-wing leader introduced between 1999 and 2013. |
Mr Chavez handed over power to Mr Maduro before undergoing a final cancer operation a year ago and nominated the former union leader as his preferred successor. | Mr Chavez handed over power to Mr Maduro before undergoing a final cancer operation a year ago and nominated the former union leader as his preferred successor. |
After his death in March 2013, Mr Maduro called a presidential election. He defeated the centre-right candidate, Henrique Capriles, by a tiny margin. | After his death in March 2013, Mr Maduro called a presidential election. He defeated the centre-right candidate, Henrique Capriles, by a tiny margin. |
Mr Capriles accused the government of electoral fraud, but failed to have the poll annulled. | Mr Capriles accused the government of electoral fraud, but failed to have the poll annulled. |
Previous version
1
Next version