Chávez Death Ends An Era In South America

He transformed his own country and then power relations in all of Latin America. When he couldn't win people over with his charisma, he was also a master at ruling with a firmer hand. But now, at the age of 58, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has lost a long battle with cancer. REUTERS / Miraflores Palace

Narcissus From Caracas: Chávez Death Ends An Era In South America -- Klaus Ehringfeld in Mexico City, Spiegel Online

Hugo Chávez will be remembered for completely changing the face of both Venezuela and much of Latin America. For most of his rule, he almost always got what he wanted. But his methods were not universally welcome. His death on Tuesday marks the end of an era.

"I will remain as long as God and the people command me to," said Hugo Chávez in 2008. At the time, the Venezuelan president and left-wing nationalist was at the apex of his power. Fifty-four years old and in office for 10 years, he self-confidently and energetically planned for the next decade as Latin America's longest serving head of state.

At the time, it was unimaginable that this gifted orator and former officer would be gravely ill by the time the 2012 presidential elections arrived. A year prior to that vote, Chávez had undergone the first of what would become four operations to free him of cancer. In recent months, his public image had come to be dominated primarily by reports on his health and further surgical procedures -- a significant come-down for a man who had presented a thorny challenge to the political elite of South America and who had seen himself as a bulwark against the US.

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My Comment: When a strongman who has not properly establish a line of succession dies .... unrest and turmoil always becomes the result. In Venezuela's case, I suspect that there are many backroom discussions within the presidential palace on how Chavez's allies can maintain the reigns power .... and I am sure that certain options are being considered. This should not surprise anyone .... in the last election, even with Chavez's force of nature and his manipulation of the media and electoral bodies responsible for the vote, his margin for victory was not impressive. Venezuela's interim President Nicolás Maduro is no Chavez .... and the only way that he can win the next election is to wrap himself around Chavez's casket and have his allies manipulate the vote. Will Venezuela's opposition agree to this state of affairs .... I doubt it. From my vantage point, Venezuela's problems are just about to get worse.