Hugo Chavez, the socialist president of Venezuela, has died today following a lengthy bout with cancer and complications from respiratory infections. He was 58.
Chavez’s death was announced by Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro, at 4:25 p.m., Venezuelan time.
From the Associated Press, via azcentral.com:
Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba in June 2011 to remove what he said was a baseball-size tumor from his pelvic region, and the cancer returned repeatedly over the next 18 months despite more surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He kept secret key details of his illness, including the type of cancer and the precise location of the tumors.
…
Chavez acknowledged after he was diagnosed with cancer that he had been recklessly neglecting his health. He had taken to staying up late and drinking as many as 40 cups of coffee a day. He regularly summoned his Cabinet ministers to the presidential palace late at night.
He often said he believed Venezuela was on its way down a long road toward socialism, and that there was no turning back. After winning re-election in 2012, he vowed to deepen his push to transform Venezuela.
His political movement, however, was mostly a one-man show. Only three days before his final surgery, Chavez named Maduro as his chosen successor.
This article appears in Feb 28 – Mar 6, 2013.
AND……….Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
It’s to bad we didn’t treat Venezuela a little differently.
Their oil made it easy-er on people using heating oil on the east coast thanks to Robert Kennedy Jr. working with Chavez.
Thanks to the GOP for ruining any chance of working with Venezuela in the future.