Venezuela’s interim president has dismissed businessman Alex Saab from his role as Minister of Industry, a high-profile shake-up that reflects ongoing political shifts since the ousting of former leader Nicolás Maduro.
In a message posted on Telegram, Delcy Rodríguez announced that the Ministry of Industry will be merged with the Commerce Ministry, and thanked Saab — a Colombian-born Venezuelan closely associated with Maduro — “for his service to the Homeland,” noting that he will assume “new responsibilities.”
Saab, a controversial figure widely seen as a trusted ally of Maduro, was appointed industry minister in 2024.
He had previously been arrested in 2020 in Cape Verde on an Interpol notice and extradited to the United States, where he and a business partner faced charges related to exploiting Venezuelan food aid programs.
His dismissal comes amid mounting international pressure, particularly from Washington, following a U.S. military operation that led to Maduro’s removal on January 3. It is one of several significant changes Rodríguez has made to Venezuela’s government since assuming interim leadership.
Observers say the move signals a broader realignment of political power and may be aimed at distancing the interim government from figures closely tied to Maduro’s administration.
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