Hugo Chavez, who was the President of Venezuala from 1998 until his death in 2013, is undoubtedly the most singular, paradoxical and colourful figure of all the politicians who have marked the history of the Latin-American continent in the past twenty years. This former paratrooper officer admired Simon Bolivar, the Che and Jesus Christ he very often quoted. When he came into power the social and economic situation of the country was disastrous - despite its oil.
At the begining of his presidency, the enthusiasm of the crowds of underprivileged, whose hero he is, was his sole support.
Is he going to eradicate misery as he has bet he will? Is he going to fall into the trap of fascism, as his opponents, most of them belonging to the ruling class, fear he might? Who is this Christian and revolutionary Bolivarian who, according to our criteria, seems to be so unreasonable in his believing that miracles can happen?
