Venezuela's president names new vice president

File photo shows Venezuela's (then) Interior and Justice Minister, Tareck El Aissami talking to the press in Caracas on November 10, 2011.[Photo/VCG]

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appointed a new vice president on Wednesday as part of a larger cabinet reshuffle.

Tareck El Aissami, 43, was named to replace Aristobulo Isturiz, who became minister for communes and social movements.

Maduro said this switch was made to combine "experience, commitment, cohesion in a new phase for the government."

El Aissami has served as interior minister and governor of the state of Aragua.

The position of the vice president is particularly intriguing this year as Maduro is facing a recall referendum.

Venezuela's conservative opposition forces have been aggressively pursuing a presidential recall referendum to oust Maduro, or to have presidential elections moved up.

Should he be ousted, El Aissami would serve as interim president until elections in 2019.