海角大神

Venezuelans pour into Plaza Bolivar to honor Ch谩vez's socialist revolution

As news of the death of President Hugo Ch谩vez spread, Venezuelans rushed to downtown Caracas, many wearing red in honor of their socialist commandante.

Plaza Bolivar in downtown Caracas quickly filled with Venezuelans Tuesday night, mourning the death of their president and commandante, Hugo Ch谩vez. Many rushed directly from work to the spot named after Simon Bolivar, the liberator of South America and聽Ch谩vez鈥檚 hero. The late president's signature red dotted the crowds. 聽As car horns blasted, thousands waved campaign posters and cradled photos of the man who led a socialist revolution that has left both Venezuela and communities across Latin America markedly changed.

A chant rose from among the crowd: 鈥淭he people united will never be defeated.鈥�

Chavez stood at the helm of Venezuela for the past 14 years, winning his most recent reelection in October. Soon thereafter he announced that his cancer, which he had been battling for at least a year and a half, had returned. He flew to Cuba in December for treatment and surgery, and was not seen publicly again. Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced his passing on national TV this afternoon.

State television shared Twitter messages from people around the globe encouraging peace and expressing condolences to the Venezuelan people. Teary statements from neighboring leaders were aired, including words from Bolivia鈥檚 President Evo Morales.聽 鈥淐havez will always be with us,鈥� he said.

"It hurts, but we must stand united in this process of liberation, not only of Venezuela but of the whole region..." Mr. Morales said. "Chavez is now more alive than ever."

Chavez was a champion for the world鈥檚 underdogs and his country鈥檚 poor, missions bolstered by Venezuela鈥檚 vast petro-wealth. He created the Bolivarian Alliance, a bloc of leftist Latin American countries, to counter the might of international institutions like the World Bank, and poured his country鈥檚 oil wealth into neighboring nations like Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

鈥淩emember this is the first time within historical memory that a leftist revolution has had a big wad of dough to back it up,鈥� says Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.

But countries that have not always been closely allied with Ch谩vez spoke out tonight as well. The Guardian reports:

Colombian President Jose Manuel Santos praised President Chavez's contribution to the peace process with the FARC [rebels] in Colombia. Chavez cherished the Bolivarian dream of regional unity, Santos said. He conveyed his condolences to Chavez's daughters.

The firebrand leader made a name for himself on the international stage with his distaste for the 鈥渂ourgeois鈥� and wealthy nations that he said tried to dominate countries like Venezuela. The Los Angeles Times published a story entitled ,鈥� highlighting such incidents as the time he called former President George W. Bush the devil, or blamed capitalism for killing off life on Mars.

But even these so-called 鈥渋mperialist鈥� enemies from the US and Europe released statements tonight marking the end of a remarkable era, with British Foreign Secretary William Hague noting that Ch谩vez had made a lasting 鈥渋mpression on the country and more widely.鈥� released this evening, former US President Jimmy Carter said:

Although we have not agreed with all of the methods followed by his government, we have never doubted Hugo Ch谩vez's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen.

President Ch谩vez will be remembered for his bold assertion of autonomy and independence for Latin American governments and for his formidable communication skills and personal connection with supporters in his country and abroad to whom he gave hope and empowerment.

President Obama released a statement as well, just hours after the Ch谩vez administration expelled two US embassy employees from the country:

At this challenging time of President Hugo Ch谩vez's passing the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government鈥�. 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.

According to the Constitution, the president of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, will serve as interim president until emergency elections are held in 30 days. Vice President Maduro was tapped by Ch谩vez in December to be his party鈥檚 successor, and he is expected to face off against the opposition leader Henrique Capriles.