Venezuela's interim leader appoints daughter of powerful Diosdado Cabello as tourism minister
Delcy Rodríguez named Daniella Cabello, 33, to the cabinet post nearly a month after Nicolás Maduro's capture, as the U.S.-sanctioned official's father consolidates influence.
February 2, 2026
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez appointed Daniella Cabello as tourism minister on Monday, continuing a series of cabinet restructuring moves nearly a month after the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro.
Cabello, 33, is the daughter of Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's interior minister and a leading figure within the ruling Socialist Party. Rodríguez announced the appointment via Telegram, stating that Cabello would assume responsibility for promoting Venezuela's national tourism system, using the phrase "Venezuela open to the world."
The appointment marks another shift in the interim government's structure following Maduro's detention. Maduro and former first lady Cilia Flores are awaiting trial in a New York prison following a U.S. military intervention that included bombardments of Caracas and neighboring regions.
Daniella Cabello appears on the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions list. In November 2024, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on her alongside other officials, including Alexis Rodríguez Cabello, the intelligence chief and cousin of Diosdado Cabello, citing their alleged participation in unspecified activities.
Diosdado Cabello holds significant power within the interim government structure. Beyond his role as interior minister, he serves as general secretary of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The United States has offered a 25 million dollar reward for his capture. In recent days, he has made notable public appearances at official events.
On Monday, Delcy Rodríguez also received Laura Dogu, the U.S. envoy appointed by President Donald Trump to handle Venezuelan affairs. The meeting took place at Miraflores Palace, the presidential headquarters in Caracas. Venezuelan authorities confirmed the encounter through communications minister Miguel Pérez Pirela.
During the meeting, Dogu reiterated the three phases outlined by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for Venezuela: stabilization, economic recovery and reconciliation, and transition, according to the U.S. diplomatic mission in Venezuela. Dogu arrived in Caracas on Saturday in her capacity as chargé d'affaires for the U.S. Unit for Venezuelan Affairs.