Despite broken vows,rocky record,he changed how Venezuela views self

Its been 13 years,waiting and waiting,and weve gotten nothing, said Pineda,50 and yet she voted for him again in October when he won another six-year term. He has moved Venezuela forward, she said.

Despite a rocky economic record and strings of broken or half-filled promises during his 14 years in office,the fundamental legacy of Chávez is not made of concrete and steel,highways and houses,but something less tangible: he has changed the way Venezuelans think about themselves and their country.

He has made people feel like theyre part of the democratic system, said Joy Olson,director of the Washington Office on Latin America,an advocacy group. If you look at the US,poor people dont feel like theyre very much a part of the system,and he did that.

Ideologically,Chávez was something of a chameleon,taking on and shedding policies and programs as they suited him. He excoriated capitalists and lectured about service to the country but tolerated or ignored widespread corruption.

He condemned the United States at every turn but depended on it to buy the oil that made his movement possible. He spoke of a peoples right to self-determination but allied himself with tyrants in Libya,Syria and Iran. Chávez mined and deepened the divide between the masses of Venezuela. He mercilessly taunted and insulted those who disagreed with him,calling them fascists,good-for-nothings,traitors,oligarchs,reactionaries and puppets of the United States.

The corollary to Chávezs aggressive advocacy for the poor at home was his attack on the hemispheres richest nation,the United States. With a defiant anti-imperialist discourse,he injected energy into a sector of the Latin American left and led a group of nations,including Cuba,Nicaragua,Ecuador and Bolivia,with leftist governments dedicated to diminishing American influence.

Farewell Hugo

US committed to new chapter

Washington: US President Barack Obama issued a statement saying,As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history,the US remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles,the rule of law,and respect for human rights.AP

Martyr,brave son

Tehran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said,He finally died from a suspect illness and he gave his life8230; to the elevation of his country and the freedom of his people. Venezuela lost its brave,strong son and the world lost a wise and revolutionary leader. PTI

Uncommon,strong man

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his late Venezuelan counterpart saying,He was an uncommon and strong man who looked into the future and always set the highest target for himself. PTI

An irreparable loss

Washington: Cancer survivor and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said: Today a great Latin American died8230;. On many occasions,the Brazilian government did not fully agree with President Hugo Chavez but today,as always,we recognise in him a great leader,an irreparable loss and,above all,a friend of Brazil. PTI