Venezuelans pay respects to deceased president Hugo Chavez

(Vatican Radio) Venezuela passes from one era to another as its people say a final goodbye to President Hugo Chavez. Millions have turned out to pay homage to Hugo Chavez who, in his fourteen years as President, transformed oil rich Venezuela into the power broker of Latin America. Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who left prior to the funeral due to health reasons, said Chavez was the best friend Argentina had. Cut price oil to allies, especially precariously balanced Cuba, has kept their volatile Latino economies afloat.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro and NOT National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello will be sworn in as interim President. A Presidential Election must be announced and held within 30 days of a pronouncement. The likely opposition candidate will again be State Governor Henrique Capriles. Only then will the world see if Chavism has outlived its creator.


Man becomes myth. Hugo Chavez will be embalmed and it is said he will be placed in the national pantheon. The Venezuelan Constitution decrees that this can only be done a quarter of a century after a hero's death. But it would not be the first time the Venezuelan Constitution was altered.

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