CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez, the fiery populist who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela, crusaded against U.S. influence and championed a leftist revival across Latin America, died Tuesday at age 58 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, announced the death in a national television broadcast. He said Chavez died at 4:25 p.m. local time.
During more than 14 years in office, Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and internationally. He polarized Venezuelans with his confrontational and domineering style, yet was also a masterful communicator and strategist who tapped into Venezuelan nationalism to win broad support, particularly among the poor.
Chavez repeatedly proved himself a political survivor. As an army paratroop commander, he led a failed coup in 1992, then was pardoned and elected president in 1998. He survived a coup against his own presidency in 2002 and won re-election two more times.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05/hugo-chavez-dead_n_2296423.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics
I think that Chavez was a good leader for his country, Venezuela. He really cared about the poor people and did everything he could for them. He did anything and everything he had to do to pick up Venezuela from the deficit it was left in. He was a type of man that spoke his mind and was not afraid to offend people. Many loved him and many hated him as well. The rich despise him because he was not on their side and giving the rich all of his support. Chavez created money by selling the petroleum with was abundant in Venezuela. Even though he might be consider a rude and arrogant man; he was very productive towards his country.
