Saturday, January 05, 2013

Hugo Chavez Fighting for Life?

By Douglas V. Gibbs

One wonders, if the very sick Hugo Chavez was to kick the bucket (or would that be "kick the hammer and sickle?) what would it do to an already on-the-edge-of-upheaval Venezuela?  We may find out soon.

According to some reports, months after Hugo Chavez won a third term as president of the South American country, Hugo Chavez is fighting for his life after suffering from severe lung infection after an emergency cancer surgery at a hospital in Cuba.  His inauguration, scheduled for next Thursday, may wind up with him as a no-show, if he does not recover soon.

Should the president-elect fail to show up for his inauguration, the Venezuelan constitution stipulates the need for a new poll if the president dies or suffers permanent physical or mental disability before inauguration. Article 233 notes: "When there is an absolute absence of the president-elect before taking office, there shall be a new election by universal, direct and secret vote within the next 30 consecutive days."

The buzz in some social networks is that Hugo Chavez may have already died.

After Chavez dominating the politics in Venezuela for fourteen years, the idea of a replacement is unimaginable.

Despite claiming solidarity, the socialists are jockeying for position.  A power struggle has erupted, inside the party of the socialists, as well as among several factions.

Should Chavez die, whoever succeeds him will be in charge of a nation in dire circumstances, with a failing economy, despite the country's oil riches.  Such is the result of socialism, which fails every time it is tried.  Venezuela has a rapidly rising fiscal deficit, with a staggering economy haunted by price and currency controls.  Inflation is soaring, the overvalued Venezuelan Bolivar is sliding on the black market and the country's total debt, now about $160 billion, has increased five-fold under Mr Chavez.

"It's a perfect example to the rest of the world on how not to run an economy," said one Caracas capital market broker - a model the democrats in America are duplicating.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary


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