Death Of Hugo Chavez Could Set Off Shock Waves Across Region -- The Telegraph
The likelihood that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is close to death will pitch rivals against one another in a battle for power and oil riches, and trigger political shock waves across the region.
The orchestra played and loyal lawmakers erupted in adulatory applause as Hugo Chavez invoked Fidel Castro and Jesus Christ as his revolutionary role models.
His right hand raised, the fiery Venezuelan leader echoed the famous call to arms of his Cuban mentor. "Fatherland, socialism or death," he proclaimed, then added with a typical flourish: "I swear by Christ, the greatest socialist in history." That was six years ago as "El Commandante" was sworn in for his third term as president and blew kisses to rose petal-tossing crowds when he returned in an open-topped car to his palace to watch a military parade.
On Thursday, the ideologue - who has used his country's oil riches to bankroll left-wing bed-fellows across Latin America, forged a cosy alliance with Iran and assailed the US from its back yard - is due to be celebrating his next inauguration.
But there will be no joyous scenes. For this weekend, he is lying close to death in a Cuban hospital bed, quite possibly being kept alive on a ventilator, suffering from respiratory problems and a severe lung infection after his fourth round of surgery in 18 months for an undisclosed type of pelvic cancer.
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My Comment: Will there be a power struggle if Chavez dies or is incapable of serving his term .... definitely. Who will come on top is still hard to say .... but it would not surprise me that the ones who will ultimately rule the country will be the same ones who got incredibly rich when they served Chavez. The only difference between them and Chavez is that instead of giving billions to countries like Cuba and Bolivia, they will probably start directing that wealth to their own personal priorities and goals.
Then again .... Chavez may bounce back and return to the presidential palace next month.
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