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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the controversial leader who championed a socialist revolution in his country, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 58.
Vice-President Nicolas Maduro went on national television Tuesday to announce that Chavez had died at 4:25 p.m. local time.
Chavez had recently returned to Venezuela following cancer surgery and more than two months of treatment in Cuba. His return prompted celebrations in the streets, but officials have been warning for weeks that Chavez was in a “delicate” condition.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died after lengthy battle with cancer. (AP / Ariana Cubillos)
As rumours of Chavez’s death swirled, messages were posted to his Twitter account late last month, saying: “We've arrived once again in our Venezuelan homeland. Thank you, my God!! Thank you, beloved nation!! We will continue our treatment here."
A photograph of Chavez smiling, flanked by his two daughters and holding a current newspaper, also emerged online this month as proof that he was still alive.
During his 14 years in office, Chavez built an international reputation with his declarations of a Venezuelan revolution and his crusade against the United States and its global influence.
Venezuelans’ opinions of Chavez’s confrontational approach were often split, but he was a populist leader who won broad support, especially among the country’s poor, and he stirred up nationalist sentiments with his impassioned speeches.
Chavez was born July 28, 1954 into a working class family of schoolteachers. He was raised by his grandmother in Sabaneta, Barinas.
During his military career, Chavez developed his leftist, socialist ideologies that would form the foundation of his presidency.
Influenced by 19th-century South American independence leader Simon Bolivar, Chavez attempted to lead his Bolivarian Revolutionary Army to a military coup d’etat in 1992 but failed. He was sent to prison and thrust into the national spotlight, which helped him gain support for his socialist movement.
He went on to establish the Fifth Republic Movement, a political party which would see Chavez elected president of Venezuela in 1998.
During his presidency, Chavez implemented sweeping constitutional reforms, and placed more control over the country’s oil industry, whose profits were used to fund social, health and education programs.
Amid burgeoning unrest in 2002, opposition groups attempted to remove Chavez from office. A 2004 referendum to recall Chavez failed.
Chavez was an outspoken critic of the United States’ foreign policy and capitalist countries, for which he drew ire and condemnation throughout his political career.
Chavez infamously called U.S. President George W. Bush “the devil” in a 2006 speech to the UN General Assembly, a move that was widely condemned around the world, but didn’t seem to affect his popularity at home.
Less than three months later, Chavez was re-elected with 63 per cent of the vote.
In 2011, Chavez confirmed that he underwent surgery in Cuba to remove a tumour from his pelvic region, although he never specified what type of cancer he had.
Despite repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Chavez’s cancer returned and he made another trip to Cuba after being re-elected again last October.
Three days before his final surgery, Chavez picked Maduro as his successor. Maduro is expected to lead the country until the next election, which could take place within the next 30 days.
In a brief statement Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama said America “reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government.”
“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,” the statement said.
‘End of an era’
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Tuesday offering his condolences to “the people of Venezuela.”
"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,” Harper said.
"At this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights."
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae said Chavez’s death marks the “end of an era” and the beginning of a crucial chapter in Venezuela’s history.
“It’s a complex situation,” Rae said of Chavez’s legacy and the question of who will ultimately succeed one of the most celebrated and reviled leaders in recent times.
Chavez was a “classic combination of autocrat, populist, someone who was embraced by his people,” even though there were a lot of problems with the way he ran his country, Rae told CTV News Channel.
A “huge effort” now needs to be made to change Venezuela’s democracy and the faltering economy, Rae said.
“It’s going to be an interesting challenge.”
With files from Karolyn Coorsh and The Associated Press
Read more: Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez dies at 58 | CTV News
Vice-President Nicolas Maduro went on national television Tuesday to announce that Chavez had died at 4:25 p.m. local time.
Chavez had recently returned to Venezuela following cancer surgery and more than two months of treatment in Cuba. His return prompted celebrations in the streets, but officials have been warning for weeks that Chavez was in a “delicate” condition.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died after lengthy battle with cancer. (AP / Ariana Cubillos)
As rumours of Chavez’s death swirled, messages were posted to his Twitter account late last month, saying: “We've arrived once again in our Venezuelan homeland. Thank you, my God!! Thank you, beloved nation!! We will continue our treatment here."
A photograph of Chavez smiling, flanked by his two daughters and holding a current newspaper, also emerged online this month as proof that he was still alive.
During his 14 years in office, Chavez built an international reputation with his declarations of a Venezuelan revolution and his crusade against the United States and its global influence.
Venezuelans’ opinions of Chavez’s confrontational approach were often split, but he was a populist leader who won broad support, especially among the country’s poor, and he stirred up nationalist sentiments with his impassioned speeches.
Chavez was born July 28, 1954 into a working class family of schoolteachers. He was raised by his grandmother in Sabaneta, Barinas.
During his military career, Chavez developed his leftist, socialist ideologies that would form the foundation of his presidency.
Influenced by 19th-century South American independence leader Simon Bolivar, Chavez attempted to lead his Bolivarian Revolutionary Army to a military coup d’etat in 1992 but failed. He was sent to prison and thrust into the national spotlight, which helped him gain support for his socialist movement.
He went on to establish the Fifth Republic Movement, a political party which would see Chavez elected president of Venezuela in 1998.
During his presidency, Chavez implemented sweeping constitutional reforms, and placed more control over the country’s oil industry, whose profits were used to fund social, health and education programs.
Amid burgeoning unrest in 2002, opposition groups attempted to remove Chavez from office. A 2004 referendum to recall Chavez failed.
Chavez was an outspoken critic of the United States’ foreign policy and capitalist countries, for which he drew ire and condemnation throughout his political career.
Chavez infamously called U.S. President George W. Bush “the devil” in a 2006 speech to the UN General Assembly, a move that was widely condemned around the world, but didn’t seem to affect his popularity at home.
Less than three months later, Chavez was re-elected with 63 per cent of the vote.
In 2011, Chavez confirmed that he underwent surgery in Cuba to remove a tumour from his pelvic region, although he never specified what type of cancer he had.
Despite repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Chavez’s cancer returned and he made another trip to Cuba after being re-elected again last October.
Three days before his final surgery, Chavez picked Maduro as his successor. Maduro is expected to lead the country until the next election, which could take place within the next 30 days.
In a brief statement Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama said America “reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government.”
“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,” the statement said.
‘End of an era’
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement Tuesday offering his condolences to “the people of Venezuela.”
"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,” Harper said.
"At this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights."
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae said Chavez’s death marks the “end of an era” and the beginning of a crucial chapter in Venezuela’s history.
“It’s a complex situation,” Rae said of Chavez’s legacy and the question of who will ultimately succeed one of the most celebrated and reviled leaders in recent times.
Chavez was a “classic combination of autocrat, populist, someone who was embraced by his people,” even though there were a lot of problems with the way he ran his country, Rae told CTV News Channel.
A “huge effort” now needs to be made to change Venezuela’s democracy and the faltering economy, Rae said.
“It’s going to be an interesting challenge.”
With files from Karolyn Coorsh and The Associated Press
Read more: Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez dies at 58 | CTV News
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