CARACAS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday announced "a partial and profound renewal" of his cabinet, including naming prominent politician Delcy Rodriguez to be his vice president.
"I have designated as executive vice president a young woman, brave, fierce, daughter of a martyr, revolutionary and tested in a thousand battles, our sister Delcy Eloina Rodriguez," Maduro said via Twitter.
Rodriguez, who formerly served as foreign affairs minister, was serving as president of the powerful National Constituent Assembly (ANC), an elected body tasked with drafting a new Constitution.
The appointment makes her the second woman to fulfill the role of vice president since the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) came to power under Hugo Chavez. The first was Adina Bastidas.
Rodriguez replaces current vice president Tareck El Aissami, who will take over the new Ministry of Industry and National Production.
"I have also created a powerful Ministry of Industry and National Production to trigger and recover Venezuela's productive power," said Maduro.
El Aissami will also serve as vice president of the economy.
Out of a total of 12 new cabinet appointments, seven have gone to women.
Maduro said the cabinet changes respond to his reelection win in May, which calls for "a new beginning."
He also thanked his top aides, saying "together we achieved peace, together we will conquer the future."
Other top appointments include politician and trained geographer Dante Rivas as the head of the Fishing and Aquafarming Ministry, replacing Orlando Maneiro.
Maduro called on him "to guarantee people's full access to fish as a healthy source of protein."
Yomana Koteich will take over from Jose Gregorio Vielma Mora at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Investment.
"The Economic Revolution entails substituting the rentier state model with a diversified one (based) on exporting and encouraging foreign investment. We have to achieve it," said Maduro.
Mayerlin Arias, who Maduro described as "a young socialist leader," will replace Freddy Bernal to lead the Urban Agriculture Ministry, with a mandate to create "a crucial plan for food sovereignty."
Stella Lugo, the ex-governor of northwest Falcon state, will head Tourism to "speed up the development of this important sector for the country's productive life."
Marleny Contreras will head Public Works; engineer Hipolito Abreu, Transport; Eduardo Pinate, Labor; Caryl Bertho, Women's Affairs; Heryck Rangel, Eco-Socialism; and Evelyn Vasquez, Water.
