A mural of Chavez is seen at the 23 de Enero neighbourhood in Caracas. (Above – REUTERS/Tomas Bravo). A woman stands at a window of a building bearing a design of the signature of Chavez in Ciudad Caribia outside Caracas. (Below – REUTERS/Jorge Silva)
Government opponents roll their eyes at the deification of Chavez, and his ubiquitous presence in public life. They see it as a cover for the failings of his successor Nicolas Maduro who was elected after Chavez died of cancer last year.
Images of Chavez’s eyes, face and clenched fist are stencilled and reproduced all over Venezuela. Recordings of his voice also thunder out at government rallies, singing the national anthem or exhorting the people: “You are all Chavez!”
Fireworks at midnight marked the beginning of the August 3rd commemorations led by Maduro with some foreign leaders in tow prior to a summit of South American bloc Mercosur. Later, Maduro led a ceremony at Chavez’s rural hometown of Sabaneta in the Venezuelan “llanos” or plains where he was born.
Maduro, who was widely mocked by foes last year for claiming to have seen Chavez’s spirit in a bird, said he had received another apparition on August 3. “A little bird approached me again,” he told relatives of Chavez and officials at the event, imitating a bird whistle. “The little bird said ‘El Comandante’ was happy, full of the love and loyalty of his people. He must be proud, happy.”
Maduro and others sang happy birthday to the deceased Chavez around a large cake. Some supporters wiped away tears. At the weekend, Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party held a first congress without Chavez, naming him their “eternal leader” while also voting Maduro as new party president. – Reuters
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