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On October 7, Venezuelans overwhelmingly reelected him. They want no one else leading them. He transformed national politics responsibly. He established participatory democracy and social justice.
He significantly improved the lives of Venezuela's poor. Constitutional and statute law mandate vital social services.
They include universal healthcare, education, subsidized food, housing assistance, land reform, job training, micro-credit, and more. He's a populist hero. He'll be hard to replace.
On December 16, his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 20 of 23 gubernatorial races. Bolivarianism is policy.
It's world's apart from America. It reflects participatory social democracy. Constitutional Preamble language explains.
Venezuela is "democratic, participatory and self-reliant, multiethnic and multicultural society in a just, federal and decentralized State that embodies the values of freedom, independence, peace, solidarity, the common good, the nation's territorial integrity, comity and the rule of law for this and future generations."
All Venezuelans are "guarantee(d) the right to life, work, learning, education, social justice and equality, without discrimination or subordination of any kind."
Constitutional law "promotes peaceful cooperation among nations and further strengthens Latin American integration in accordance with the principle of nonintervention and national self-determination of the people, the universal and indivisible guarantee of human rights, the democratization of imitational society, nuclear disarmament, ecological balance and environmental resources as the common and inalienable heritage of humanity."
America is world's apart. It's polar opposite. Permanent war is policy. Class war rages. Social decay deepens. Constitutional freedoms are disappearing. Police state laws compromise them irreparably.
Democracy never existed and doesn't now. Injustice is institutionalized. America's political process is flawed. It's lawless, corrupt and dysfunctional.
Duopoly power runs things. Elections are more theater than real. Ordinary people are entirely shut out. They have no say whatever.
Chavez established change. Most Venezuelans won't tolerate returning to ugly past politics. Why should they? They're led by a man who cares. They've got Bolivarian social justice institutionalized.
Fall elections afforded opposition forces no chance. They're still shut out despite uncertainty about Chavez's health. It's a worrisome wildcard.
Chavez had four cancer surgeries in 18 months. Recovery from major surgery is daunting. Multiple ones create added complications. Venezuelans are justifiably concerned.
It's unclear if Chavez is well enough to serve. His longterm health prognosis is uncertain. Medical experts disagree. No one knows for sure.
Venezuelan leadership will be for grabs if he's gone. Eventually he will be. Chavista angst reflects the possibility. They want him leading Venezuela as long as he's able. Transitioning to new leadership won't be easy.
On January 10, his new six-year term begins. His struggle to recover continues. He hopes he'll end up cancer free.
His current condition shows he needs more recovery time. He'll unlikely return for inaugural swearing in. Expect postponement to follow.
Venezuelan constitutional law has wiggle room. Under Article 231:
"The candidate elected shall take office as President of the Republic on January 10 of the first year of his constitutional term, by taking an oath before the National Assembly."
"If for any supervening reason, the person elected President of the Republic cannot be sworn in before the National Assembly, he shall take the oath of office before the Supreme Tribunal of Justice."
No date is specified. Dominant PSUV National Assembly members can extend Chavez's absence up to six months. Vice President Nicolas Maduro can replace him for 90 days. The NA can authorize an additional 90 days.
Hopefully by then or sooner he'll be well enough to return and serve. If not, new elections will be held to replace him. Doing so perhaps changes little short-term.
Longer-term prospects present concerns. It's hard replacing a bigger-than-life figure. Venezuelans will cross that bridge eventually. Hopefully it's no time soon.
On December 30, the Havana Times headlined "Chavez Suffers Setback, Sends Greetings to Venezuelans from Cuba."
Vice President Maduro explained. He's visiting Chavez. He "decided to stay in Havana to accompany the commander and his family over the coming hours."
He said "a few minutes ago we were with President Chavez. He greeted us, and he himself talked about (post-operative) complications." They're not unusual.
"Thanks to his physical and spiritual strength, (he's) confronting this difficult situation."
Maduro expressed faith that his "immense will to live and the care of the best medical specialists will help (him) successfully fight this new battle."
He's optimistic that "the spiritual strength of the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, and the prayers that have been felt throughout the world for his recovery, will help our President to overcome the disease."
A senior government official said Caracas' Plaza Bolivar New Year's festivities were cancelled. Venezuelan Capital District head Jazueline Faria said:
"Everyone pray for (Chavez's) strength....to overcome this difficult moment."
Chavez's daughter Maria said "Thank you people of Venezuela. Thank you people of the world. You and your love have always been our greatest strength! God is with us! We love you!"
On December 30, Venezuela Analysis published a government communique on Chavez's health. It states in part:
"Through this message the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is fulfilling its responsibility to inform the Venezuelan public of President Chavez's clinical progress fo llowing his surgical intervention, carried out in Havana, Cuba, on 11 December."
Post-operative complications arose. Internal bleeding and respiratory infection problems were corrected.
"Throughout yesterday we remained vigilant as to the progress of his condition and his response to treatment. We met several times with his medical team and his closest family members."
"A few minutes ago we were with President Chavez. We greeted each other and he himself made reference to these complications."
"Commander Chavez wanted us to transmit a special end of year greeting to Venezuelan families, who are gathered together over this period throughout the country."
"In particular he wanted to send a warm embrace to the children of Venezuela, and remind them that they are always in his heart."
"The embrace was extended to all of our people, so that they see in the year 2013 with love; a year which should bring the greatest of happiness to our homeland, as well as the definitive consolidation of our independence and national unity."
Three weeks after complicated surgery, "Chavez's state of health continues to be delicate. He has presented complications that are being attended to with treatment that is not without risk."
"Thanks to his physical and spiritual strength, Commander Chavez is fighting this difficult situation."
"We trust that the global avalanche of love and solidarity expressed towards Commander Chavez, as well as his incredible strength and the care of the best medical specialists, will help our president to successfully fight this new battle."
"Long live Chávez!"
Note: New Year's day reports say Chavez is in stable condition. He spent Monday with his daughters. Venezuelans pray for his full recovery.
Why are the populous so anxious for him to remain leader, is he the best of the worst? What happened to these claims...'Suitcase full of cash adds to Chavez corruption claims' [Link]And later this article '
Hugo Chávez revolution mired by claims of corruption
Ex-socialist star Wilmer Azuaje joins tide of protest against alleged corruption of inner-circle
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Rory Carroll
The Guardian, Sunday 18 April 2010 22.12 BST
Hugo Chávez waves to supporters in Barinas with his state governor brother Adán
Hugo Chávez waves to supporters in Barinas with his state governor brother Adán (left), whose appointment was marred by fraud allegations. Photograph: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images
Wilmer Azuaje was a young firebrand when he joined Hugo Chávez's revolution a decade ago to topple Venezuela's corrupt ruling class. He was elected to the national assembly and worked with the president's family to turn their home state of Barinas, a rural backwater of cattle ranches, into a laboratory of change.
Azuaje was inspired by Chávez's promise to sweep away a history of graft and patronage which had stunted an oil-driven economy. "I believed in the process of reform," said Azuaje.
Not anymore. The baby-faced protege, once a rising star in the ruling party, has now become the Chávez family's most outspoken foe. "They turned out to be the most corrupt ever. They betrayed us."
Azuaje has blown the whistle on what he claims is a kleptocratic dynasty in Barinas where farms, businesses, banks and government contracts have been pocketed by the president's parents and five brothers.
The allegations come amid wider complaints that the revolutionary socialist movement known as "chavismo" has been hijacked by money-driven opportunists inside, or close to, the government.
Nationalisations, the creation of new state enterprises and a maze of price and currency controls have spawned well-connected millionaires nicknamed Boligarchs, after the independence hero revered by Chávez, Simón Bolívar .
Murky state finances meanwhile have put Venezuela 162nd, alongside Angola and Congo, out of 180 countries in Transparency International's corruption perceptions index.
Chávez appears to have recognised the wheel has turned: that the cry against corruption which helped bring him to power in 1998 will be used against his candidates in September's legislative elections. "This party has to tighten the moral belt," he said in December last year.
The charismatic leader remains popular with many of the poor for spending oil revenues on social programmes but with the economy shrinking and widespread electricity and water shortages the perception of sleaze could tip the balance against his PSUV party. Some 64% think corruption has worsened and regard things to be generally going badly, according to a recent poll.
For Chávez it is especially galling that Barinas, the family fiefdom and revolution showcase, is now cited for corruption, nepotism and misrule. Critics have a list of grievances and accusations which make the state's administration sound like a soap opera.
Chávez's father ruled as governor for a decade until handing over to the president's brother, Adán, in an election marred by fraud allegations. Other brothers are also thriving: Aníbal is mayor of nearby Sabaneta; Adelis is a top banker at Banco Sofitasa, which enjoys government contracts; Argenis wields enormous clout as a political fixer; Narciso is reportedly planning his own election run.
Members of what is dubbed the "royal family" travel in convoys of 4x4s. The president's once-matronly mother, Elena, has had a makeover with plastic surgery, designer clothes, bling jewellery and a poodle named Coqui.
It is alleged the family bought thousands of hectares of farmland through proxies, including a former labourer, Nestor Izarra, who is named as the owner of one estate, La Malagueña. The family has denied any wrongdoing.' [Link]He must have extremely good PR agents.