THE DEATH of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez at 58 after a long struggle with cancer was announced last night by his vice-president and favoured successor Nicolas Maduro. Chavez, who had not been seen in public this year, was an icon for 21st century Latin American socialism. But his rule divided opinion at home and abroad – hence the conspiracy theories circulating in Caracas in the wake of his death:
'It was an American plot.' Chavez's cancer was immediately blamed by Vice-President Maduro on a US plot. In a lengthy televised address, he said Chavez had been infected by "imperialist" enemies. He also revealed that Venezuela had expelled two American diplomats for spying on the military. "We have no doubt that commander Chavez was attacked with this illness", he said. The US said the accusation was "absurd".
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A week of mourning. Chavez's body will be carried through the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas this morning before lying in state at the military academy until his funeral on Friday. Foreign minister Elias Jose Jaua Milano has declared a week of official mourning. Professor Daniel Hellinger, a US-based Venezuela analyst, told Reuters the funeral will likely "rival Eva Peron's", referring to the death in 1952 of the first lady of Argentina.
Obama's 'olive branch'. President Barack Obama said yesterday the US was interested in developing a more "constructive relationship" with Venezuela – an announcement the Wall Street Journal interpreted as an "olive branch" to the Venezuelan people. One US government official told CNN it was "counterproductive to be at odds" with Venezuela's government. But an unnamed source in the Obama administration said the expulsion of US diplomats showed the country's leadership was "uncertain, unsure and weak".
New election. The election to find a new president will be held in 30 days' time, with Nicolas Maduro assuming the presidency until then. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost against Chavez in elections in October 2012, is expected to be chosen to stand against the vice-president.
-
How does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compare to Game of Thrones?Talking Point George R.R. Martin prequel is more ‘fun’ but still has plenty of blood and guts
-
The Board of Peace: Donald Trump’s ‘alternative to the UN’The Explainer Body set up to oversee reconstruction of Gaza could have broader mandate to mediate other conflicts and create a ‘US-dominated alternative to the UN’
-
Prince Harry’s court battle with ‘highly intrusive’ pressIn the Spotlight As the Duke of Sussex and other high-profile claimants begin their trial against Associated Newspapers, ‘the stakes for all sides are high’
-
How oil tankers have been weaponisedThe Explainer The seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic last week has drawn attention to the country’s clandestine shipping network
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
Venezuela ‘turning over’ oil to US, Trump saysSpeed Read This comes less than a week after Trump captured the country’s president
-
Delcy Rodríguez: Maduro’s second in command now running VenezuelaIn the Spotlight Rodríguez has held positions of power throughout the country
-
Maduro pleads not guilty in first US court hearingSpeed Read Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to cocaine trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
