President Hugo Chavez, the fiery populist who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela, crusaded against U.S. influence and championed a leftist revival across Latin America, has died at age 58 after a two-year battle with with cancer. During more than 14 years in office, Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and internationally. He polarized Venezuelans with his confrontational and domineering style, yet was also a masterful communicator and strategist who tapped into Venezuelan nationalism to win broad support at home and abroad, including in Cuba, Belarus and Iran. It was only four months ago that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won his presidential re-election and on Tuesday he was pronounced dead after an ongoing battle with cancer. Chavez claimed victory with 54 percent of the vote in 2011 and RT's Lucy Kafanov was there when it all went down. She joins us now to recap his passing and gives us some insight as to who his successor might be.
