Venezuela's Maduro reacts to U.S. sanctions against first lady, key allies

Record ID: 1357981

  • Title: Venezuela's Maduro reacts to U.S. sanctions against first lady, key allies
  • Date: 25th September 2018
  • Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MADURO WITH FLORES (STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF MADURO), VICE PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ (BLACK HAIR, LIGHT BLUE SHIRT, STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF FLORES), ON A BALCONY VARIOUS OF CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, GREETING SUPPORTERS WHEN SHE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY VARIOUS VICE PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SIT
  • Embargoed: 9th October 2018 19:01
  • Keywords: sanctions crisis Vice President Venezuela Cilia Flores First Lady Delcy Rodriquez allies Vladimir Padrino
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0058Z4MERR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro reacted on Tuesday (September 25) after the United States imposed new sanctions on his wife and key allies including the vice president and defence minister, accusing them of plundering the country's wealth and helping Maduro maintain his grip on power.
    Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino were among the six people targeted, according to a statement on Tuesday from the U.S. Treasury Department. Three entities and an aircraft were also listed.
    "The United States will continue to take concrete and forceful action against those who are involved in the destruction of democracy in Venezuela as well as those who are enriching themselves at the expense of the Venezuelan people" the Treasury Department wrote in a statement.
    The Trump administration has levied several rounds of sanctions against Maduro's government since 2017 on accusations of cracking down on adversaries, fuelling widespread corruption and destroying the country's once-prosperous economy.
    "Today, the government of the United States released one of those decrees that they tend to release with a list of sanctions against the First Lady of Venezuela Cilia Flores. Nothing like this has ever been seen," Maduro said during an event in Caracas. "If you want to attack me, then attack me but don't go after Cilia, don't go after a family.
    Maduro says the government is victim of an "economic war" waged by political adversaries with the help of Washington and accuses neighbouring countries of exaggerating the migrant exodus.
    Maduro has retained power despite the country's critical situation, in part because of continued support of members of the armed forces such as Padrino, 55, who was appointed defence minister in 2014.
    First lady Cilia Flores, a lawyer and former attorney general who also ran the country's legislature, frequently appears at public events with Maduro and is seen an important behind-the-scenes power broker.
    She was thrust into the international public eye in 2015 when two of her nephews were arrested for conspiring to traffic cocaine into the United States, a situation she described as a "kidnapping."
    Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, a 49-year-old lawyer, is one of Maduro's most trusted allies. She has been Foreign Minister, Information Minister, and is currently Vice-President.
    Her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, was a long-time ally of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez and currently serves as Information Minister.
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