By Xinhua
Caracas : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has reshuffled his cabinet and named a new vice president of the country.
Ramon Carrizales, the housing minister, will replace Jorge Rodriguez as new vice president, Chavez said in a telephonic interview aired Thursday on state television VTV.
He said there have been 12 changes in his new cabinet, but did not give details about this cabinet reshuffle.
According to the Venezuelan constitution, the vice president is named by the president rather by voting. The vice president will take office if the president dies or becomes unable to fulfil duties.
During the interview, Chavez said it was important for his government to approach the country’s middle class, and pledged to tackle the problems of corruption and inefficiency that the South American country is currently confronting.
Last month, Chavez lost a referendum that was aimed to push through 69 constitutional changes, including the extension of the presidency.