Charismatic and controversial, Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez was without a doubt the most influential Latin American leader of his generation.
Our paths crossed for the first time in Canada, during the Presidential meeting of the Americas. I was a university student protesting the meeting, he was a recently elected President, the only among 37 that were inside the building who stand tall to US's new foreign policy, the FTAA...this movement later became my Master's thesis. I did not know back then I'd almost owe my career to Chavez.
He was inspired by Latin American (Venezuelan) independence hero Simon
Bolivar, and was a true son to Fidel Castro. When I lived in Cuba I saw him quite often, he visited Fidel, attended May 1st ceremonies, protests against the US, concert, what not. While the oil prices rose in the world, he got richer, richer and richer. He nationalized the private oil industry in his country. He started distributing his money to the poor and those who needed a lot. Such as Cuba. He became in a way Cuba's savior. Cheap oil from Venezuela rescued Cuba's failing economy. Cuba paid its debt to Venezuela by sending thousands of health workers, teachers, athletes, etc to support Chavez's social project for the poor. Venezuelan students flock to the island to study. Poor and unhealthy were treated in Cuban health facilities. Venezuelan and Cuban people became allies. Cuba once again was not all alone in the world.
Since Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela in
1998, left-wing leaders who struggled to win elections in this continent started to become more and more popular, they began finding it hard to lose. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru -
all voted in left-wing presidents of varying shades, all inspired to some
degree by Hugo Chavez. World called it a s"pink tide" in Latin America. Chavez's policies were more on the bright dark pink, rest of them did not go as far as him. They did not have to. Brasil chose a different path with Lula. Lula pulled his country from deficit, debt and corruption to become world's 4th strongest economy, so prosper that they lend money to IMF and to Portugal.
Chavez and his best friends/allies President Evo Morales of
Bolivia, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Fidel Castro even started an alternative economical front called ALBA, "a bolivarian alliance for the Americas" , an economical block that will help member countries to prosper and grow without depending on international funds or development programs with hidden agendas. Aside from ALBA, The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) were all founded as part of the drive for regional integration. While Chavez was building institutions and blocks, my Master thesis was growing with new information and novelties. When I graduated, there was a left-wing south american spring was dominating the world.
After I moved from Cuba, I thought I would not see much of Chavez, but i was wrong. He became a good friend of Nestor and Cristina Kirchner in
Argentina. He bought millions of dollar worth bonds to save the country from its economical crisis. Nestor became a heroic president, thanks to him. After his death Chavez mourned together with entire nation. Today we are mourning for Chavez. It is a very sad day for Latin America indeed.
He also became friends with actors and directors. Sean Penn and Oliver Stone, his close buddies even made a movie about him.
