The Venezuelan Economy's Rising Czar
Rafael Ramírez, Venezuela's oil minister, is a bookish-looking engineer. A tall, impeccably dressed, light-skinned man who speaks almost in a hush, he stands in contrast to the rest of Venezuela's boisterous political leadership. But one should not be fooled by appearances: Ramírez may seem like the odd man out, but he is now arguably the most important person in the government. A few months ago, President Nicolás Maduro promoted Ramírez to vice president of economic affairs -- essentially putting the mild-mannered man in charge of the country's economy. And he's determined to make some big changes.
Rafael Ramírez, Venezuela's oil minister, is a bookish-looking engineer. A tall, impeccably dressed, light-skinned man who speaks almost in a hush, he stands in contrast to the rest of Venezuela's boisterous political leadership. But one should not be fooled by appearances: Ramírez may seem like the odd man out, but he is now arguably the most important person in the government. A few months ago, President Nicolás Maduro promoted Ramírez to vice president of economic affairs -- essentially putting the mild-mannered man in charge of the country's economy. And he's determined to make some big changes.