Jorge Rodríguez (politician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jorge Rodríguez Gómez (born November 9, 1965) is a Venezuela
n politician and psychiatrist who was Vice President of Venezuela
from January 2007 to January 2008. He is currently the Mayor of the Libertador Municipality
in Caracas
.
He was born in Barquisimeto
. His father was a leader in the Socialist League and was tortured to death by police in the 1970s. Prior to his appointment as Vice-President, Rodríguez had been the chief of Venezuela's National Electoral Council
.
On January 3, 2007 President Hugo Chávez
announced that Rodríguez would be the next Vice President, replacing José Vicente Rangel
. He was sworn in on January 8, two days before Chávez's swearing in for his next term as president.
Rodríguez studied medicine at the Central University of Venezuela
(UCV); he was the president of the Federation of University Centers in 1988. After graduating, he studied psychiatry at the UCV and community clinical psychology at the Andrés Bello Catholic University
.
He headed the government's campaign in favor of a group of constitutional amendments in the December 2007 referendum
. Following the defeat of the referendum, Chávez announced on January 3, 2008 that he was replacing Rodríguez with Ramón Carrizales
, previously the Minister of Housing. Chávez said that Rodríguez would concentrate on developing the new United Socialist Party of Venezuela
.
In the November 2008 regional elections
, Rodríguez was elected as Mayor of the Libertador District in Caracas.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n politician and psychiatrist who was Vice President of Venezuela
Vice President of Venezuela
Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the second highest political position in the government of Venezuela. Vice President is the most direct collaborator of the President of the Republic according to the Constitution. Position of Vice President appeared in the...
from January 2007 to January 2008. He is currently the Mayor of the Libertador Municipality
Libertador Municipality (Venezuelan Capital District)
The Libertador Bolivarian Municipality is the only administrative division of the Venezuelan Capital District and along with the municipalities of Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo and Sucre forms the Metropolitan District of Caracas. It is located in the western portion of Caracas. It is landlocked by...
in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
.
He was born in Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
. His father was a leader in the Socialist League and was tortured to death by police in the 1970s. Prior to his appointment as Vice-President, Rodríguez had been the chief of Venezuela's National Electoral Council
National Electoral Council (Venezuela)
The National Electoral Council is one of the five independent branches of government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. It is the institution that oversees and guarantees the transparency of all elections and referendums in Venezuela at the local, regional, and national levels...
.
On January 3, 2007 President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
announced that Rodríguez would be the next Vice President, replacing José Vicente Rangel
José Vicente Rangel
José Vicente Rangel Vale is a Venezuelan leftist politician. He ran for President three times in the 1970s and 1980s and later supported Hugo Chávez, successively becoming Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Vice President in Chávez's government.-Political activism:His political activism began...
. He was sworn in on January 8, two days before Chávez's swearing in for his next term as president.
Rodríguez studied medicine at the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
(UCV); he was the president of the Federation of University Centers in 1988. After graduating, he studied psychiatry at the UCV and community clinical psychology at the Andrés Bello Catholic University
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello is a private university in Venezuela. One of the biggest universities in Venezuela, UCAB has campuses in several cities, such as Caracas , Los Teques, Guayana and Coro....
.
He headed the government's campaign in favor of a group of constitutional amendments in the December 2007 referendum
Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 2007
A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 2 December 2007 to amend 69 articles of the 1999 Constitution. Reform was needed, according to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, to implement his socialist agenda; detractors said he was using the reforms to become a dictator.The referendum was...
. Following the defeat of the referendum, Chávez announced on January 3, 2008 that he was replacing Rodríguez with Ramón Carrizales
Ramón Carrizales
Ramón Alonso Carrizales Rengifo is a Venezuelan politician who was Vice President of Venezuela from January 2008 to January 2010...
, previously the Minister of Housing. Chávez said that Rodríguez would concentrate on developing the new United Socialist Party of Venezuela
United Socialist Party of Venezuela
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela is the name of a democratic socialist political party in Venezuela which resulted from the fusion of some of the political and social forces that support the Bolivarian Revolution led by incumbent President Hugo Chávez...
.
In the November 2008 regional elections
Venezuelan regional elections, 2008
The regional elections of Venezuela were held on Sunday, 23 November 2008, to choose22 governors, 2 metropolitan mayors, 328 mayors and 251 aldermen for a four-year term . These were the first elections to be held since incumbent President Hugo Chávez founded the PSUV.In these elections, 17,308...
, Rodríguez was elected as Mayor of the Libertador District in Caracas.