Venezuela Appoints Alleged Drug    Trafficker as Oil Minister

Tareck El Aissami

Since 2017, Venezuela has had a new oil minister appointed and that is Tareck El Aissami he is in charge of organizing the energy field. Although, recently Venezuela has struggled to stay on top of its economy which has greatly affected its oil field and the people have been truly affected by it having to wait hours in line to pump gas. As stated in the article the U.S narcotics punished Mr. Aissami which put him on a list of presumed narcotic kingpins. Today the oil industry has just gotten worse it is as if it has been forgotten, as well as U.S sanctions making it harder for gas to be imported to Venezuela. The long lines for gas have pushed people to look towards the black market in hopes to purchase gas faster. The gas has affected public transportation which has led to problems with the food industry amid the coronavirus outbreak.

This article is unique in a way that while the world is not only battling a pandemic but each country continues to struggle with problems within their country. Venezuela has been having ongoing problems within its government as well as its economy in recent years. Although the country is trying to come up from the problems they are having they are not doing it in the best way possible. Electing a suppose drug trafficker as the oil minister is not a good look for the country. The image it portrays is not good given the fact that other countries would not be happy to engage with people whom themselves engage in illegal activities. Who is to say that if countries do decide to do business with Venezuela in the oil field the business will be completely valid and legal.

SOURCE: https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuela-appoints-alleged-drug-trafficker-as-oil-minister-11588032834