SPAIN: Hundreds gather in Madrid to show their support for Venezuela following the passing of President Hugo Chavez

Record ID: 213912

  • Title: SPAIN: Hundreds gather in Madrid to show their support for Venezuela following the passing of President Hugo Chavez
  • Date: 6th March 2013
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (MARCH 6, 2013) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) RED COMMUNIST FLAGS WITH SOL SQUARE CLOCK IN THE BACKGROUND / SUPPORTERS OF VENEZUELA PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS GATHERED BANNER WITH CHAVEZ' FACE DRAW ON IT SUPPORTERS CHANTING IN SPANISH "THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, CHAVEZ LIVES" PEOPLE GATHERING VENEZUELAN FLAG / WOMEN CRYING WOMEN EMBRACING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHAVEZ SUPPORTER, CARMEN MOREN, SAYING: "Well I feel very sad because he has been fighting for the independence of the people of the world and for social justice. I came from Granada and I'm sure the Venezuelan people will overcome this situation." PEOPLE WRAPPED IN ECUADORIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADORIAN, JORGE CUEVAS, SAYING: "It is a big loss for Latin America, but we think despite losing his physical presence, his legacy in Latin America inspires us to keep fighting. Our comrade the vice commander (Nicolas) Maduro is going to keep up the struggle with the support of Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba, Chile and Argentina we will be the big nation (that South American independence leader) Simon Bolivar dreamt of." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: International Relations,Obituaries,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVABBMAGDT07XE798NBIFRCZU12B
  • Story Text: Hundreds gathered at the Sol Square in central Madrid on Wednesday (March 6) to mourn the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
    Waving Venezuelan flags and chanting slogans supporting Chavez' self-styled socialist revolution, people from Spain and many Latin American countries shared their anguish at the same site that was the focal point of anti-austerity protests.
    Chavez easily won a new six-year term at an election in October and his death is devastating for millions of supporters who adored his charismatic style, anti-U.S. rhetoric and oil-financed policies that brought subsidized food and free health clinics to long-neglected slums.
    Carmen Moren travelled from Granada in southern Spain for the gathering, called by the Bolivarian Platform.
    "Well I feel very sad because he has been fighting for the independence of the people of the world and for social justice. I came from Granada and I'm sure the Venezuelan people will overcome this situation," she explained with tears in her eyes.
    In 1998 Chavez won the Presidential elections ending the grip of Venezuela's traditional parties and launching his self-proclaimed "Bolivarian Revolution" - named for Venezuela's 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar.
    He combined traditional left-wing tenets of equality and wealth distribution with a fervent nationalism inspired by Bolivar.
    Ecuadorian Jorge Cuevas believes Venezuela would follow the path marked by Chavez.
    "It It is a big loss for Latin America, but we think despite losing his physical presence, his legacy in Latin America inspires us to keep fighting. Our comrade the vice commander (Nicolas) Maduro is going to keep up the struggle with the support of Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba, Chile and Argentina we will be the big nation (that South American independence leader) Simon Bolivar dreamt of," Cuevas who has been living in Spain for the last 12 years explained.
    President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday (March 5) after a two-year battle with cancer, ending 14 years of tumultuous, divisive rule that won him passionate support from the poor but the hatred of business leaders and wealthier Venezuelans.
    Venezuelans will vote for a new president in 30 days and Vice President Nicolas Maduro will temporarily assume power following the death of Chavez
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register