Nicolas_maduro

(FILES) Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolas Maduro salutes military-style after he was appointed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as new vice president, replacing Elias Jaua, in Caracas on October 10, 2012. Leftist President Chavez admitted late December 8, 2012 a relapse of his cancer and designated Maduro as his heir in case “something happened” to him.AFP PHOTO/Leo RAMIREZ