Venezuela has launched a purge of the most powerful names in its oil industry. Unlike the Saudi or Hollywood purge, however, this one isn't about change – just gang warfare.
By Monica Showalter December 2, 2017
In a purge as dramatic as that of Saudi Arabia or the Hollywood-media industrial complex, Venezuela has booted the most powerful names in its oil industry, with 65 officials arrested for corruption. Unlike the other purges, this one isn't about change or lawbreaking – just gang warfare to consolidate President Nicolás Maduro's socialist grip on power.
Powerful names in Venezuela's oil industry, people who've been in and out of the picture for years, went down like bowling pins in Venezuela this week.
Nelson Martínez, Venezuela's chief of the state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), was one. Eulogio del Pino, the country's oil minister, was another. Whoever was acting director of Venezuela's U.S. refiner and distributor, CITGO, isn't there, either.
A press release from Nov. 29 says Asdrubal Chávez is now running the U.S. operation, and many of the CITGO officials are now detained in Caracas. Chávez is a cousin of Venezuela's late president, Hugo Chávez. Even the press contacts' names are now different
............More
My Take - This is in my opinion Maduro's last chance to skim billions more money for himself. Everyone in the hierarchy of Venezuela's political and business structure are corrupt beyond contempt, but the money is mostly gone and whatever's left - Maduro want it for himself. But he can't just take it. He needs the help of his myrmidons - and that's who he's put in charge. Is this Maduro signalling the end is coming for his he and his thugs? I believe it is.
No comments:
Post a Comment