Argentine Interim President Swears in Key Cabinet Members

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 24, 2001

Argentine Interim President Swears in Key Cabinet Members

Argentine interim president Adolfo Rodriguez Saa swore in some key members of the new interim cabinet Sunday in Buenos Aires.

Argentine interim president Adolfo Rodriguez Saa swore in some key members of the new interim cabinet Sunday in Buenos Aires.

The sworn-in cabinet members include three ministers and state secretaries in charge of finance, tourism and intelligence.

Rodriguez Saa, a 54-year-old lawyer of Partido Justificialista (PJ) took office shortly after the Argentine Congress appointed him interim president the same day.

As part of the efforts to restructure government institutions, he said upon taking office that he merged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense and appointed Jose Maria Vernet to head the new ministry.

Luis Luquinos was appointed General Secretary of the Presidency who concurrently serves as cabinet chief. Roodolfo Gabrielli was named Interior Minister and Oraldo Britos Labor Minister.

Rodriguez Saa replaced Roman Puerta, the PJ senate leader, who automatically succeeded President Fernando de la Rua, who resigned over widespread social turmoil in protest against his government'saustere economic policies.

Rodriguez Saa, who is currently serving his fifth consecutive term as the provincial governor of the western province of San Luis, is expected to rule the troubled Latin American country until new presidential elections scheduled for next March.

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