12:24 | Lima, Sep. 14 (ANDINA).
Peruvian President Alan Garcia announced Tuesday that Education Minister Jose Chang will become the nation's next prime minister, replacing Javier Velasquez.
Chang replaces Javier Velasquez who had stepped down from the Prime Ministerial post earlier in the month to run for presidency in the April 2011 elections as the ruling APRA party's candidate.
Like Velasquez, Chang is one of the key members of the ruling APRA party. He has also served as an education minister and is said to be a long-time ally of Garcia.
Without mentioning other changes to the cabinet, Garcia's office in a statement said the rest of the cabinet reshuffle would be announced later Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony, rttnews.com reported.
Garcia cannot run for presidency in the April 2011 elections as Peru's constitution bans sitting Presidents from running for a second consecutive term in office.
Order of the Sun
President Garcia was speaking at a ceremony where he presented the Order of the Sun of Peru to the outgoing Premier Javier Velasquez.
Garcia praised the work done by Velasquez at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, saying that he served with "absolute efficiency and neatness."
(END) YDM/GCO/EEP
Published: 9/14/2010