10:24 | Lima, Mar. 19 (ANDINA).
Peruvian President Alan Garcia announced Saturday that Rosario Pilar Fernandez Figueroa will be sworn in later in the day as the new chair of the Council of Ministers, replacing Jose Antonio Chang Escobedo.
Speaking from the Salaverry port in La Libertad region, the head of state told reporters that Jose Antonio Chang has resigned because "academic activities" at the privately funded San Martin de Porres University prevented him from staying on.
Garcia Perez said that the former prime and education minister was required to first spend some months as a professor in order to be re-appointed as the university's chancellor.
Thus, the Peruvian leader denied that Chang's voluntary departure was the result of an alleged cabinet crisis, noting that he is very pleased with the "extraordinary and historic" work done by Chang in the field of education.
Garcia said he will honor Chang Escobedo with the country’s highest accolade, Orden El Sol del Perú (Peru's Order of the Sun).
The president added that newly-appointed Prime Minister Rosario Fernandez will remain as Justice Minister, while Victor Diaz Chavez will take the education portfolio.
(END) NDP/PSY/EEP
Published: 3/19/2011