Venezuela's Political and Economical Situation

Political:

After his failure to become president of Venezuela in 1992 in a coup d’etat, Hugo Chavez finally reached the power he desired through democratic elections in 1998.

Chavez kept being reelected despite he had a strong opposition; this brought a lot of concern to the people.

On March 5^th Hugo Chavez passed away and the fight for keeping the power began for the chavistas. According to the constitution Diosdado Cabello should take Hugo Chavez’s place until there are new elections because he is the president of the national assembly of Venezuela, however, Hugo Chavez announced before passing away that he wanted Nicolás Maduro (the vice president) to take his place as the President of Venezuela.

Maduro says that he should be the next president and carry on with Chavez’s plans for Venezuela, meanwhile he is the President until new elections are carried out.

On the other hand we have the opposition lead by Enrique Capriles which is strongly campaigning to win the next elections set for April 14^th  2013.

Although Maduro has a hard job which is maintaining the love of the people towards Hugo Chavez so that they vote for him as his successor, Capriles has a harder job which is convincing the people that he is what Venezuela needs.

According to the last poll carried out on March 18^th  Nicolás Maduro is ahead of Capriles by 14,4% but there are still 4 months to go and decisions may change.
(Lia Rizo Patrón)

Economical:

After Hugo Chavez's death, it is hoped that the new government will improve the economy in Venezuela. There was a devaluation of 46.5% of the bolivar (currency in Venezuela) and this is why the change of a dollar grew from 4.30 bolivars to 6.30 bolivars. Explanations have been trying to be found, it is imagined that this inflation has come because of the global crisis and the lack of inner production, which would provide incomes to the country. But an important reason why this, inflation and devaluation of the bolivars, has occurred is because of the corrupt government while Chavez still ruled. This can be seen when it is said that Hugo Chavez leave his family in good economic conditions but leaves his country in very bad ones. 

The worst thing that could happen for the economy of this country is chavism to prevail or for it to continue with the same steps as Chavez. 

(Alessandra Roncal)