Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Friday appointed to his Cabinet a close ally who was pardoned by US President Joe Biden last year as part of a prisoner swap and following assurances that Venezuela would hold a fair presidential election in 2024.

Colombian businessman Alex Saab will become new industry minister, in latest cabinet change since contested election.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday in a social media post that businessman Alex Saab has been appointed industry minister, replacing Pedro Tellechea. Saab, a close ally of Maduro, was freed in a prisoner exchange with the United States late last year,

Shugaba Nicolas Maduro na Venezuela ya nada wani na hannun daman shi cikin majalisar zartaswa, wanda shugaban Amurka Joe Biden yayiwa afuwa a bara, a wani musayar bursunoni, biyo bayan tabbacin cewa,

Saab replaces Pedro Tellechea, whom Maduro moved from the oil ministry to the industry ministry in August as part of a large cabinet shakeup following a disputed presidential election. The cabinet shakeup included leadership of the oil and finance ministries and state energy company PDVSA.

- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Alex Saab embrace during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that overthrew dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 23,

Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro on Friday appointed controversial businessman Alex Saab as the country’s minister of industry and production, despite the charges that had been brought against him in the United States for allegedly running a massive corruption and money-laundering scheme.