In the face of uncertainty, Venezuela frames Ch谩vez as savior
During a difficult year in which the future of Chavismo has become increasingly uncertain, the government of Nicol谩s Maduro has continued to construct a around the figure of Hugo Ch谩vez through a continual flow of ritual events.
These ceremonies construct a narrative in which the 19th century independence struggle against imperial Spain is constantly linked to the life of Mr. Ch谩vez and his personal struggle against new forms of imperialism.聽Indeed, the life and death of Ch谩vez himself is narrated as the reenactment of the life of Venezuela鈥檚 independence hero Sim贸n Bol铆var.聽President Maduro emphasized this connection in his speech on July 5, Venezuela鈥檚 Independence Day.聽
We are here today to make effective the message of independence that was enacted 200 years ago in this land of Venezuela, a great battle of ideas, a battle by those who were willing to open a historical time to the new man and women that live in this fatherland. We are aware today more than ever that this is a legacy left to us by Comandante Ch谩vez. Today鈥e can say that thanks to Sim贸n Bol铆var, thanks to the men and women of our time, at 16 months of the physical passing of our Comandante Hugo Ch谩vez, we have to infinitely thank our Comandante for giving us dignity.聽聽聽
Looking back at the first half of 2014 we can trace the multiple ceremonial events that are being used to construct a new civil religion.
A good starting point is the monthly commemoration of the death of Hugo Ch谩vez at the Cuartel de la Monta帽补 on the fifth of every month. These ceremonies have developed into a complex liturgy, broadcast by all TV and radio stations, which includes discourses, prayers, songs, slogans, and a cannon salvo exactly at 4:25聽pm, the time of Ch谩vez death. The complete 鈥淐ivic-military High Command of the Revolution,鈥� including聽 Maduro, pay their respects.
During the 11th monthly commemoration, last Feb. 5, reminded those present that 鈥渙n his death bed, Sim贸n Bol铆var said that Jesus Christ, Quixote, and himself had become the great 鈥榠diots [majaderos] of history,鈥� because of their obstinate condition as builders of utopias. Hugo Ch谩vez used to recall this statement of the Liberator, not even imagining that he would become part of it: On March 5 at 4:25聽pm our Comandante became the fourth 鈥榠diot of history.鈥欌��
The press note on that commemoration event by the official state news agency the deep religious mood of the ceremony, and emphasizes the central role of Maduro, as chosen 鈥渟on鈥� of Ch谩vez:
Standing, with lifted faces and fists against their chests, men and women fighters of the Bolivarian revolution honored the Comandante eleven months after his passing. Once again, his son, the President of the Republic Nicol谩s Maduro, led the event, holding hands with the deputies of the National Assembly and members of the executive cabinet, all of whom once again shouted 鈥楥h谩vez lives, the struggle continues!鈥�
The first days of February were already packed with historical significance for the Bolivarian Revolution. , Ch谩vez officially took office for his first presidential term. Commemorating that date this year an article in the : 鈥淭hat February 2鈥he majority of the Venezuelan people resumed the Bolivarian project and dream of regional unity truncated in 1830 by the death of the Libertador Sim贸n Bol铆var and the dissolution of the Gran Colombia.鈥�
Feb. 4 is even more important for the revolutionary calendar. On that day in 1992 Hugo Ch谩vez burst on to the historical stage with a failed coup attempt that showed the vulnerability of Venezuela鈥檚 existing democratic regime. In official discourse the 1992 coup is not described as a coup, since in Chavismo that term is used to refer exclusively to right-wing military uprisings.
Instead Ch谩vez鈥檚 actions of that day are referred to as a 鈥渃ivic-military rebellion鈥� against 鈥渢he neo-liberal model and the imperial domination of our humble and working people, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and their lackeys, the small politicians [politiqueros], the corrupt, and the Pacto de Punto Fijo which had betrayed the hopes of the people.鈥�
In the Chavista narrative, after Bol铆var鈥檚 death in 1830, his project and ideals were betrayed by Venezuela鈥檚 governing elites. The dissolution of the Gran Colombia, the successive dictatorships that ruled the country, the civil wars of the 19th century, and even the democratic period starting in 1958 were all part of this betrayal.
The reawakening of Bolivar鈥檚 19th centuray dream was the 鈥渃ivic-military rebellion鈥� of Feb. 4, 1992. As Maduro tweeted in the early hours of the morning of this past Feb. 4: 鈥淸It is the] dawn of the Revolutionary awakening under the leadership of the Giant of the New History, the Comandante Hugo Ch谩vez.鈥�
On March 5, the one year anniversary of Chavez鈥檚 death, opposition protests were still disrupting daily life in many Venezuelan cities but in the Cuartel de la Monta帽补, the last resting place of President Ch谩vez, the mood was of deep commemoration for the first anniversary of the passing of the Comandante Eterno. The government designated ten days of official commemoration starting March 5 and Venezuelans that 鈥渢he love of the people for Hugo Ch谩vez is alive, strong, and vibrant.鈥�
Maduro invited the people to participate in the commemoration ceremonies: 鈥淐h谩vez will go down in history as the vindicator of Bol铆var, he turned him into the People, the present and future of the Fatherland,鈥� tweeted Maduro the day before.
The events of March 5 included a civic-military parade, ceremonies in the Cuartel de la Monta帽补 and of the documentary Mi Amigo Hugo by Oliver Stone, transmitted on several state television channels.
April 13 also marked an important date on the ceremonial calendar. On that date in 2002 Ch谩vez, having been deposed on April 11 by a coup, was returned to power by a popular protests and military rebellion. This year鈥檚 commemoration included a mass rally in front of the Miraflores Palace. called for a spiritual renovation: 鈥淚t is time for a permanent renovation of love, of faith. I call on to the people to renew its love, faith, and confidence in the Bolivarian Revolution and the path to socialism.鈥�
