Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez was the former President of Venezuela and the founder of Chavismo, a left-wing populist ideology characterized by anti-imperialism. While Chavez is deceased, his legacy and the political ideology he founded are newsworthy due to the recent US raid on Caracas in January 2026 and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro, a successor carrying on Chavez's Chavismo, has been ousted, leading to an interim government and potential shifts in Venezuela's political and economic landscape. The future of Chavismo is being questioned, especially as Venezuela explores re-establishing ties with the US and considers reforms to its oil sector, potentially breaking with the Chavez model. Figures like Diosdado Cabello, who rose to power under Chavez, remain relevant in the post-Maduro era, highlighting the lasting impact of Chavez's political movement on Venezuela.