Venezuelan legislator mourns Cuban revolutionary Ramiro Valdés

Venezuelan legislator Jorge Arreaza expressed sorrow over the passing of Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a prominent figure in the Cuban Revolution, who died in Havana at the age of 94.

"Our embrace to the revolutionary Cuban people for the physical departure of Commander Ramiro Valdés," Arreaza, the former son-in-law of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, stated on X. He characterized Valdés's "firmness and will" as a perpetual guide for future generations and highlighted his "unwavering loyalty" as an example to be followed and admired.

Valdés was a key member of the historical generation that, alongside Fidel Castro, seized power in Cuba in 1959 and established a socialist system. He participated in significant revolutionary events, including the 1953 Moncada barracks assault, the 1956 Granma yacht expedition, and the 1958 guerrilla invasion. Following the revolution's triumph, he held crucial positions, notably in organizing the nascent government's security apparatus and co-founding the State Security Department (DSE) and the General Directorate of Intelligence (DGI).

In his later years, Valdés served as deputy prime minister, overseeing socio-economic matters such as housing construction, material production, electricity generation, and industrial investments. He represented one of the last surviving links to the revolutionary leaders who shaped modern Cuba.