Public works minister temporarily steps aside, citing heart problems

Luis Llach, appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport last May, will step aside indefinitely, citing health reasons, a press release from Casa Presidential said Wednesday.

The decision follows a doctor’s recommendation after evaluating the minister’s heart problems in recent weeks.

Llach’s health condition was made public less than three months after his appointment as head of the ministry (MOPT) after the dismissal of Francisco Jiménez over a corruption scandal involving the construction of Route 1856, a 160-kilometer road along Río San Juan, a natural border with Nicaragua.

Communications Minister Francisco Chacón said that “at the time, Luis Llach is not resigning his post as head of MOPT,” and “the government will wait to see how his health condition evolves.”

While the minister is recovering, his charge will be assumed ​​by Vice Minister Rodrigo Rivera.