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The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, announced on Monday new changes in her cabinet, placing Captain Juan Escalona, a man of complete trust of chavismo and a member of Maduro's personal security circle, at the head of the Ministry of the Presidency.
Escalona is a well-known figure due to his closeness to Maduro, even for the public jokes that the now-detained leader used to make at his expense during events broadcast on national television.
His rise is interpreted as a clear signal of continuity, loyalty, and internal control at a time that the government itself has described as "delicate" for the stability of the country.
In the ministerial reshuffle, Aníbal Coronado leaves the strategic presidential office to head the Ministry of Ecosocialism, replacing Ricardo Molina.
Coronado is not a stranger either: a rear admiral of the Navy and former aide-de-camp to Maduro, he was part of the closest protective circle around the Chavista leader for years. His career is marked by positions related to state security and the management of strategic territories such as Los Roques and La Orchila.
The movements occurred just days after Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president by order of the Supreme Court of Justice, following the capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during a U.S. military operation.
Since then, the Executive has accelerated a reconfiguration of power that includes changes in key areas such as the economy, security, and now the presidency itself.
In a message shared via Telegram, Rodríguez emphasized the “loyalty, ability, and commitment” of Escalona to ensure the continuation of the plans of the so-called Bolivarian Government. Beyond the official language, the message seems aimed at both the internal chavismo and the international community: power remains in the hands of the same core group, despite Maduro's absence.
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