Popular but controversial Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dead at 58
Posted March 5, 2013 6:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died at age 58, according to the country’s Vice-President, Nicolas Maduro.
Reaction is piling in from around the world, with leaders sending their condolences and wishing their best to the Venezuelan people as they enter a transitionary period.
“I would like to offer my condolences to the people of Venezuela on the passing of President Chávez,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a statement.
“Canada looks forward to working with his successor and other leaders in the region to build a hemisphere that is more prosperous, secure and democratic.”
During his reign the controversial leader of oil-rich Venezuela became Latin America’s most vocal spokesperson and was Washington’s chief antagonist in the region.
Chavez was a fierce supporter of socialism and the charismatic leader often clashed with America when it came to ideologies.
The Venezuelan government had said earlier Tuesday that a severe new respiratory infection had hit cancer-stricken Chavez and his condition was “very delicate.”
The government had said Chavez had been undergoing “chemotherapy of strong impact.”
Chavez had neither been seen nor heard from, except for photos released in mid-February, since submitting to a fourth round of surgery in Cuba on Dec. 11 for an unspecified cancer in the pelvic area. It was first diagnosed in June 2011.
The government had said he returned home on Feb. 18 and was confined to Caracas’ military hospital since.
The death of the controversial leader has sparked shock around the world, with reactions varying in different regions.
For some in Venezuela, Chavez was a heroic figure and someone to look up to, while others saw the fiery populist as a threat.
He was witty, charismatic and easily able to win over a crowd, while at the same time a fierce competitor in the political realm.
In a statement, President Barack Obama weighed in on the death and U.S. and Venezuelan relations.
“At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez’s passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government,” Obama said.
“As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.”
An election will now have to be called in Venezuela, with many polls pointing to V.P. Nicolas Maduro as being an early favourite.
