How Post-Ch?vez era depends on Maduro

The death of longtime Venezuelan leader Hugo Ch?vez, leaves questions about that country's future.?Vice President Nicolas Maduro is the likely successor, but it's unclear whether he will pursue the same socialist policies as his predecessor. A state funeral for Ch?vez will take place on Friday.?

By Simon Gardner,?Reuters, Andrew Cawthorne,?Reuters / March 6, 2013

The coffin of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is driven through the streets of Caracas, after leaving the military hospital where he died. Authorities have not yet said where Chavez will be buried after his state funeral on Friday.

REUTERS/Edwin Montilva

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Weeping and shouting, a sea of Hugo Chavez's supporters paraded his coffin through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday in an emotional outpouring that could help his deputy win an election and keep his self-styled socialist revolution alive.?? ?

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Hundreds of thousands of "Chavistas" marched behind a hearse carrying the remains of the flamboyant and outspoken president, draped in Venezuela's blue, red and yellow national flag.? ?

Avenues resounded with chants of "Chavez lives! The fight goes on!" as supporters showered flowers onto the coffin and jostled to touch it. Loudspeakers played recordings of the charismatic socialist giving speeches and singing.

Some supporters held heart-shaped placards that read: "I love Chavez!" Others cheered from rooftops, waving T-shirts. ??? ?

Ending one of Latin America's most remarkable populist rules, Chavez died on Tuesday.

His body was to be taken to a military academy later on Wednesday to lie in state until his state funeral on Friday.? ?

The future of Chavez's socialist policies, which won him the adoration of poor Venezuelans but infuriated opponents who denounced him as a dictator, now rests on the shoulders of Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the man he tapped to succeed him.? ?

"We ask our people to channel this pain into peace," Maduro said.? ?

Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and union leader, will probably face Henrique Capriles, the centrist opposition governor of Miranda state, in an election now due within weeks in the OPEC nation with the world's largest oil reserves. ?? ?? ?

One recent opinion poll gave Maduro a strong lead over Capriles, in part because he has received Chavez's blessing as his heir apparent, and he is likely to benefit from the surge of emotion following the president's death.? ?

Authorities said the vote would be called within 30 days, as stipulated by the constitution, but did not specify the date.? ?

The tall, mustachioed Maduro has long been a close ally of Chavez. He pledges to continue his legacy and is unlikely to make major policy changes soon.? ? He will now focus on marshalling support from Chavez's diverse coalition, which includes leftist ideologues, business leaders and radical armed groups called "colectivos."?? ?

Some have suggested Maduro might try to ease tensions with Western investors and the U.S. government. Yet hours before Chavez's death, Maduro alleged that "imperialist" enemies had infected the president with cancer and he expelled two U.S. diplomats accused of conspiring with domestic opponents.? ?

A victory by Capriles, 40, a centrist politician who calls Brazil his model for Venezuela, would bring big changes and be welcomed by business groups, although he would probably move cautiously at first to lower the risk of political instability.? ?

"Don't be scared. Don't be anxious. Between us all, we're going to guarantee the peace this beloved country deserves," Capriles said in a condolence message, calling for unity and respect for the loss that many felt after Chavez's death.?? ??? ?

Allies

The stakes are also huge for Latin America, given the crucial economic aid and cheap fuel that Chavez sent to allied leftist governments across the region. ?

Venezuela's military commanders pledged loyalty to Maduro, who will be caretaker leader until the election, and soldiers fired 21-gun salutes to Chavez in barracks across the nation.? ?

Venezuelan debt prices fell on Wednesday as investors opted to lock in gains chalked up in anticipation of Chavez's death, citing short-term political uncertainty.?? ?

It was not immediately clear where Chavez would be buried.? ?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/NhAqmgZO7hA/How-Post-Chavez-era-depends-on-Maduro

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