Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS1089
2008-08-04 21:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
STUDENT LEADER BECOMES CABINET MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXRO3111 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1089 2172129 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 042129Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1575 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001089
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR
SUBJECT: STUDENT LEADER BECOMES CABINET MINISTER
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001089
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR
SUBJECT: STUDENT LEADER BECOMES CABINET MINISTER
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) President Chavez announced Sunday the appointment of
pro-government student leader Hector Rodriguez as Minister of
Popular Power for the Office of the President. Rodriguez
replaces Jesse Chacon, who is the United Socialist Party of
Venezuela's (PSUV's) candidate for mayor of the Sucre borough
of Caracas, one of the mayorships that the opposition hopes
to win in November.
2. (SBU) Rodriguez, 26, graduated from the Central
University of Venezuela (UCV) in 2007 with a degree in law.
He gained notoriety in Venezuela as an ardent and articulate
pro-government student leader in the run-up to the December
2007 constitutional referendum. His work earned him a spot
on the President's Committee for Student Popular Power and
later as Vice President of the PSUV for Guarico State.
3. (C) COMMENT. Chavez described Rodriguez's appointment as
an infusion of, "new blood, young blood in this path towards
socialism." Chavez's selection of Rodriguez is a relative
novelty. Past ministerial appointments have generally come
from the ranks of long-time Chavez associates. Rodriguez
replaces one of Chavez's closest associates and a former
fellow leader in the failed 1992 coup. Chavez's efforts to
create a mass pro-government student movement have so far
been unsuccessful, but Rodriguez's promotion gives the BRV a
very visible counterweight to prominent pro-democracy student
leaders. END COMMENT.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR
SUBJECT: STUDENT LEADER BECOMES CABINET MINISTER
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) President Chavez announced Sunday the appointment of
pro-government student leader Hector Rodriguez as Minister of
Popular Power for the Office of the President. Rodriguez
replaces Jesse Chacon, who is the United Socialist Party of
Venezuela's (PSUV's) candidate for mayor of the Sucre borough
of Caracas, one of the mayorships that the opposition hopes
to win in November.
2. (SBU) Rodriguez, 26, graduated from the Central
University of Venezuela (UCV) in 2007 with a degree in law.
He gained notoriety in Venezuela as an ardent and articulate
pro-government student leader in the run-up to the December
2007 constitutional referendum. His work earned him a spot
on the President's Committee for Student Popular Power and
later as Vice President of the PSUV for Guarico State.
3. (C) COMMENT. Chavez described Rodriguez's appointment as
an infusion of, "new blood, young blood in this path towards
socialism." Chavez's selection of Rodriguez is a relative
novelty. Past ministerial appointments have generally come
from the ranks of long-time Chavez associates. Rodriguez
replaces one of Chavez's closest associates and a former
fellow leader in the failed 1992 coup. Chavez's efforts to
create a mass pro-government student movement have so far
been unsuccessful, but Rodriguez's promotion gives the BRV a
very visible counterweight to prominent pro-democracy student
leaders. END COMMENT.
DUDDY