Maduro names young hard liner to run Venezuela's ailing economy

[Judi Lynn]

Thu Jan 7, 2016 2:24am GMT

Maduro names young hard liner to run Venezuela's ailing economy

CARACAS | By Andrew Cawthorne and Alexandra Ulmer


President Nicolas Maduro named a hardline sociologist on Wednesday to steer Venezuela's economy during an acute recession that is battering the OPEC nation and has cost the ruling Socialists' control of congress.

In a major cabinet reshuffle, the president appointed Luis Salas, 39, a professor at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela created by late leader Hugo Chavez, to the top economic position of vice president for the economy.

Salas, who has repeatedly espoused Maduro's view of an "economic war" waged by right-wing foes and wealthy businessmen against the government, was also named head of a new Ministry for Productive Economy.

The appointment will confound critics who say Venezuela desperately needs a loosening of state controls to revive production in a nation plagued by shortages and the world's highest inflation rate.

In his writings, Salas has argued in favour of price controls, says inflation is used as a "political tool" to pressure governments, and blames fascism for what he calls economic sabotage.

More:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-politics-idUKKBN0UK2IY20160107

[Marksman_91]

1. So in essence, nothing is going to change

Yet another radical running the economy and who won't take up any logical policies to fix the crisis. It seems like Maduro will never learn, and will gladly keep digging his own grave.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. At least chavistas are consistently stupid. On another note, why is that Maduro and chavistas are

upset that proceedings of the AN are being televised by non-state media?

http://www.maduradas.com/maduro-se-van-a-equivocar-senores-de-globovision-y-televen-y-no-hay-arrepentimiento-video/

[Marksman_91]

3. They fear that things which they don't like being reported live are gonna be shown

I don't know about you, but that kinda sounds like a dishonest and secretive bunch trying to hide something. And yet they're so delighted when Wikileaks or Snowden or whoever leaks secrets exposing other governments. Hypocrisy at its finest

[Bacchus4.0]

4. Yeah, I looked into it a bit. No private media for over 5 years at the AN until now. nt

[Marksman_91]

6. And if this poor decision is not enough...

Jorge Rodriguez, the chavista mayor of the Libertador district of Caracas (where chavismo lost in December, I might add) says he has ordered to have the city covered with Chavez imagery after the new National Assembly removed his pictures from it. Man, these Chavistas are worse sore losers than I imagined they could be. Instead of using public funds to help with the economic crisis the country's going through, these assholes prefer to use it for literal street propaganda, which doesn't help any family feed itself. Fucking pathetic. And the Chavistas in this site probably applaud this like seals.

[FBaggins]

5. A sociologist to run an economy?

I suppose that's what one should expect from a taxi driver.

In his writings, Salas has argued in favour of price controls, says inflation is used as a "political tool" to pressure governments, and blames fascism for what he calls economic sabotage.

He'll fit right in.

They can't find an actual economist? Left, right, or center... they pretty much all agree on the impact of price controls like those they'v been running.