President Hugo Chávez announced his nomination this Tuesday during the inauguration of the Hospital Dr. Osía in Cúa in the state of Miranda.
As ambassador to the UN, he led an ultimately failed battle to earn a place for Venezuela in the Security Council. No replacement for him has been announced.
Cárdenas' nomination as UN representative in 2006 was met with reluctance by some Chavistas, who considered him a traitor. Luis Tascón, for one, withheld his vote.
Cárdenas, a career military officer and politician, held a position in the second government of Rafael Caldera, and then ran for governor of Zulia on his own account. Then he was considered as an opposition candidate for the presidency against Chávez.
Since then, he has clearly gained the trust of Chávez, or can be considered an example of the Chávez government's certain degree of plurality. In his role at the UN, there is no reason to believe he operated against the interests of the government, despite the controversy.
However, it is unclear if this change-up is a promotion or demotion, or simple a change-up. Many have argued that Venezuela's shot at a security council seat was hurt by Chávez calling Bush "the devil" at the UN.
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