Venezuela Marks First Anniversary Of Chavez’s Death
Venezuela Marks First Anniversary Of Chavez’s Death
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Marisol Perez, Venezuelan Army specialist, cries while visiting a chapel near Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez's mausoleum in Caracas, March 5, 2014.Rodrigo Abd—AP
Supporters of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took to the streets across the country Wednesday to commemorate the anniversary of his death from cancer.
A planned military parade in the capital city of Caracas was set to demonstrate current president Nicolas Maduro’s ability to mobilize the population, reports Reuters, as a series of violent anti-government protests continue to undermine his leadership.
Chavez was immensely popular among the poorest members of Venezuela’s population, thanks to his anti-American rhetoric and generous spending on slum projects. Yet barely a year after his death, his successor has faced a series of challenges from the protests, which have resulted in a reported 18 deaths. Maduro has been blamed for not doing enough to overcome many of the country’s problems, including rampant crime and spiraling living costs.
However, Chavez’s cousin Guillermo Frias claimed that although Chavez “changed Venezuela forever,” he insisted that “Maduro is also a poor man, like us. He’s handling things fine. Perhaps he just needs a stronger hand.”
Marisol Perez, Venezuelan Army specialist, cries while visiting a chapel near Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez's mausoleum in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Rodrigo Abd—APPresidential guards stand next to the tomb of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez at the former military barracks that was turned into Chavez's mausoleum in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Rodrigo Abd–APElena Frias, mother of Venezuela's late president Hugo Chavez, puts flowers over his tomb during the first anniversary of his death in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Jorge Silva–ReutersPablo de la Cruz Aldana poses for a photo after visiting the mausoleum of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Rodrigo Abd–APVenezuelan Air Force jets fly over an official parade marking the first anniversary of Hugo Chavez death on March 5, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. John Moore–Getty ImagesA group of people carry the picture of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, during the military parade to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Chavez, in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Miguel Gutierrez–EPAVenezuela's President Nicolas Maduro stands in a convertible limousine next to first lady Cilia Flores as security guards stand on the sides of the car during a military parade commemorating the one year anniversary of the death of Venezuela's former President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, March 5, 2014. Rodrigo Abd–APMembers of the Venezuelan armed forces watch as tanks pass by during an official parade marking the first anniversary of Hugo Chavez death on March 5, 2014 in Caracas.John Moore–Getty ImagesVenezuelan military officers watch an official parade marking the first anniversary of Hugo Chavez death on March 5, 2014 in Caracas.John Moore–Getty ImagesVenezuelan soldiers pass by dignitaries while marking the first anniversary of the death of Hugo Chavez on March 5, 2014 in Caracas.John Moore–Getty ImagesVenezuelans watch during a parade marking the first anniversary of Hugo Chavez' death on March 5, 2014 in Caracas.John Moore–Getty ImagesA cutout of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lies on the street following a parade marking the first anniversary of his death on March 5, 2014 in Caracas.John Moore–Getty Images
