Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos showed pride over his new executive cabinet as he delivered oaths and added new members Wednesday.
Hoy posesionamos un equipo de lujo : http://t.co/odzUpL8tfs
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) September 12, 2013
President Santos swore in his new Ministers of the Interior, Agriculture, Mines and Energy, and Environment as well as directors of his administrative and National Planning departments Wednesday morning.
MORE: Santos announces 5 new ministers and chief of staff
In addition to this ceremony, the President announced that the ex-Minister of the Interior, Fernando Carillo, will be Colombia’s new Ambassador to Spain, the ex-Minister of Mines and Energy, Renjifo Federico, will be Colombia’s new Ambassador to France, and Patricia Archbold will be Colombia’s new Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
President Santos praised his ministers and staff for their skills and attributes in his welcome speech and highlighted challenges to come.
“I know Aurelio Iragorri, and I know his will be an exceptional ministry. He has a great responsibility for the rest of this term not just to pass laws and reforms that will be in front of congress, but also everything that has to do with dialogue with communities and political dialogue,” he said of his new Minister of the Interior.
The President characterized his new Minister of Agriculture Ruben Lizarralde as a leader and manager who is knowledgable in the field of agriculture. He will speak at an agriculture sector meeting shortly which aims to transform the Colombian countryside.
“[The success of the Mines and Energy Ministry] depends on having a mining policy and an energy policy and a great oil policy, all which requires great political tact because there are many competing interests,” Santos said assuring his faith in new minister Amylkar Acosta.
The President asserted that new Environment Minister Luz Sarmiento also “assumes a very new complex portfolio, which requires leadership and special execution.”
“The National Planning Department Director is a kind of coordinator of all policies, and at this time also has a huge responsibility as it controls the entire system of privileges that we are executing,” Santos said of his new director, Tatyana Orozco.
Finally, of his new Chief of Staff, Maria Gutierrez, the President remarked, “[Maria] arrives at a position that is complex, dealing with all ministers, sometimes coordinating their discipline. It is not an easy task but [Gutierrez] has shown that she has the character and ability to do so.”
Other announced members of the government’s new team included the Chief Minister for Social Dialogue, Luis Garzon and the President’s Personal Secretary, Cristina Plazas.