Venezuelan Attorney General Resigns Amid Political Changes
On Wednesday, Tarek William Saab, Venezuela’s Attorney General, resigned after nearly nine years in the position. His departure came on the same day that Ombudsman Alfredo Ruiz announced his resignation, leading to Saab being named the interim ombudsman.
Saab, who has identified himself as a lawyer and poet, has been an influential figure in Venezuela’s socialist government. He was dubbed the “Poet of the Revolution” by Hugo Chávez when he began his political journey in 1999. He is closely associated with Nicolás Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores, having represented Chávez and other officials linked to the failed coup attempt on November 27, 1992, against then-President Carlos Andrés Pérez.
In a letter marking one month since the arrests of Maduro and Flores, Saab reminisced about meeting Flores while representing Chávez. He expressed a deep connection with her, even referring to her as a “sister.” Eventually, Saab became a member of Chávez’s Movement for the Fifth Republic (MVR), which evolved into today’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). He played a significant role in the government’s persecution of dissenters and served in various key roles before becoming attorney general in 2017.
The United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission has criticized Saab, accusing Venezuela of neglecting investigations into torture and human rights abuses. Former political prisoners have accused him of facilitating the regime’s oppressive actions against opponents.
On the same day as his resignation, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez revealed he had received resignation letters from both Saab and Ruiz. This was unexpected, especially since Saab had recently been confirmed for a new seven-year term by Socialist Party members until 2031.
As of the last updates, Saab had not made any public statement regarding his resignation. Shortly after the news broke, he rebranded his Instagram account to reflect his philosophical beliefs, now named “@budistaestoico7,” which translates to “Stoic Buddhism.”
In his resignation letter, Saab stated he was stepping down after fulfilling his role with dignity amidst challenging circumstances that called for protecting human rights and maintaining peace in Venezuela.
He expressed pride in his team for their efforts to advocate for vulnerable populations, including children, women, and seniors.
In an unexpected turn, following Ruiz’s resignation, Saab was appointed as the interim ombudsman until a permanent replacement is selected. Reports indicate that Saab’s reasons for leaving his post relate to personal and health matters.
Rodríguez also noted that no deputy attorney general is available to take over Saab’s duties in the interim. Subsequently, lawyer Larry DeVoe was designated as interim attorney general; he is known to be a close associate of Rodríguez and has previously held numerous government positions simultaneously.
Rodríguez formally swore in Saab and DeVoe to their interim roles, with Saab vowing to continue his work in protecting peace through public programs focused on supporting vulnerable groups, including children and pets.
