Venezuela's Hugo Chavez dies at 58

[Scottish⑦Canuck]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...merica-21679053

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has died, his vice-president has announced.

Mr Chavez had not appeared in public since he returned to Venezuela last month after cancer treatment in Cuba.

An emotional Nicolas Maduro made the announcement on Tuesday evening, flanked by leading Venezuelan political and military leaders.

Earlier, he said the 58-year-old Venezuelan leader had a new, severe respiratory infection and had entered "his most difficult hours".

One of the most visible, vocal and controversial leaders in Latin America, the former army paratrooper won the presidency in 1998 and had most recently won another six-year presidential term in October 2012.

Last May, he said he had recovered from an unspecified cancer, after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy in 2011 and a further operation in February 2012.

However, in December 2012, he announced he needed further cancer surgery in Cuba, and named his Vice-President, Nicolas Maduro, as his preferred successor should the need arise.

Mr Chavez remained out of public view, finally returning to Venezuela in February.

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[aeromotacanucks]

althought a "hard to deal with" leader Chaves did something for Venezuela. good or bad before him the country was a "giant playground" of USA and European countries. He tried do something on his way but it´s never easy because the "Latino" comunity demands a strong and well dedicated leader/president urging for their needs and changes...

Chaves said "no" to USA intervention, bouth Russian weapons, somebody may say that Venezuela became the "new Cuba for Russia" and it isn´t a false statement...

the Latin America is changing on our way, people are recognizing that the bad stereotype of "Latino" isn´t true. the "Latinos" aren´t composed only by illegal imigrants, drugdealers or prostitutes. speak Spanish or Portuguese doesn´t mean you are inferior comparing to people speaking english, french or germany...

Chaves did his last act allowing Venezuela enter on MERCOSUL (South America Trade/Military Alliance) and now our block is becoming stronger and solid, Venezuelans will now be able to make tourinsm in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile etc with only their IDs. even European Union want trade with us while NAFTA is composed by USA exploring Mexico and Canada. sooner even Mexico will say "so long NAFTA" and will join our group...

what will happen to our neighbor is uncertain, maybe Maduro will continue Chaves government, maybe the Military will take over for another era of "Iron fists", maybe there will be another election. who knows...

now let´s just say "ok Chaves. you did your mission. the future belongs to your people. Venezuelans..."

but from Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Panama. we´re all Latinos, we´re pride to be Latinos, we´re all brothers speaking Portuguese or Spanish. we´re neighbours...

[ronthecivil]

^ As long as there's lots of oil money Venezuela will be ok

Well, as ok as it gets in a completely socialist country. I find it shocking there's still any "oligarchs" in the country for the chavistas to complain about.

[DeNiro]

The CIA claims another victim.

[hudson bay rules]

And not a day too soon

[Electro Rock]

The CIA claims another victim.

[Ovech Trick]

"The results of the Chavez government's economic policies have been a 50% drop in poverty rate, from 49% of the households in early 1998 to 24% in 2009. Similarly, the extreme poverty rate dropped more than two-thirds, from 21% of households in 1998 to 6% in 2009. Whiles most of this drop in poverty is attributable to social policies that benefit the poor, much of is also traceable to dramatic drop in unemployment, which feel by nearly fall, from around 14.5% in early 1999 to about 7% in late 2010. Some countries that pursue neo-liberal economic policies have also achieved lower poverty rates, but usually at the expense of greater inequality. In Venezuela, though, inequality, as measure by the "Gini coefficient" dropped from 0.49 in 1998 to 0.39 in 2010, one of the lowest levels in Latin America."

An assesment of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution at Twelve Years (via foucaulthehater)

[Mainly Mattias]

after all of the downplaying of his poor health.

[key2thecup]

While the "western media" celebrates this as the death of a tyrant.

Best of luck to the Venezuelan people. Chavez was a Commy but he still wasn't half as bad as some dictators on this planet, or as bad as the hardcore elite of the West.

[ronthecivil]

"The results of the Chavez government's economic policies have been a 50% drop in poverty rate, from 49% of the households in early 1998 to 24% in 2009. Similarly, the extreme poverty rate dropped more than two-thirds, from 21% of households in 1998 to 6% in 2009. Whiles most of this drop in poverty is attributable to social policies that benefit the poor, much of is also traceable to dramatic drop in unemployment, which feel by nearly fall, from around 14.5% in early 1999 to about 7% in late 2010. Some countries that pursue neo-liberal economic policies have also achieved lower poverty rates, but usually at the expense of greater inequality. In Venezuela, though, inequality, as measure by the "Gini coefficient" dropped from 0.49 in 1998 to 0.39 in 2010, one of the lowest levels in Latin America."

An assesment of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution at Twelve Years (via foucaulthehater)

[Charlie.the.Unicorn]

Oil well!!

[Dittohead]

Won't be missed.

[Armada]

RIP greatest man ever.

[Gross-Misconduct]

Why do I think how he looks like Ceasar Romero?

Because I don't know what Hugo Chavez looks like.

[Special Ed]

Many people loved him.

RIP.

[Sestito29]

A man who stood up to the US of A.

A rarity.

Respect and RIP.

[Miss Korea Bob.Loblaw]

A man who stood up to the US of A.

A rarity.

Respect and RIP.

[Apples]

RIP

[Duodenum]

Very polarizing figure.

On one hand he is the authoritarian who suppressed any who opposed him.

On the other, he diverted many a dollars towards helping the poor.

RIP

[nuckin_futz]

A man who tried to crush any opposition in his country, a man who tried to take over the country via coup, a man who altered his own constitution so he could hold office for longer, a man who nationalized the nation's entire industry and jacked up the oil prices 100x? That guy?

If nothing else, I've got some anecdotes from Venezuelan friends on FB. They are not missing Hugo at all right now.