No inauguration,but funeral for Chávez

A priest said a prayer over the coffin before it was loaded on the hearse,and the national anthem was played. Chávezs mother stood at one end with her head buried in a white handkerchief,overcome with tears. Along the route of the procession were thousands of people,many dressed in his movements characteristic red shirts,often crying.

He will lie in a military academy in Caracas,in honor of a career that included a failed 1992 coup,a successful 1998 election campaign and then 14 years as the dominant,charismatic,divisive,beloved,reviled and three-time president of this oil-rich nation.

Chávez died Tuesday afternoon after a struggle with cancer,the government announced,leaving behind a bitterly divided nation in the grip of a political crisis that grew more acute as he languished for weeks,silent and out of sight,in hospitals in Havana and Caracas.

Close to tears and his voice cracking,Vice-President Nicolás Maduro said we received the hardest and most tragic information that we could transmit to our people.

As darkness fell,somber crowds congregated in the main square of Caracas and at the military hospital,with men and women crying openly in sadness and fear about what would come next.

In one neighborhood,Chávez supporters demanding information on his health for several days asked,Are you happy now? Chávez is dead! You got what you wanted!

Chávezs departure alters the political balance not only in Venezuela,the fourth-largest supplier of foreign oil to the US,but also in Latin America,where Chávez led a group of nations intent on reducing American influence in the region.

The Constitution says that,since Chávez was at the start of a term,the nation should proceed to a new election within 30 days,and Foreign Minister Elías Jaua said Maduro would take the helm in the meantime. Yet no official announcement was made as of Wednesday morning about a schedule for elections or if Maduro has formally taken charge of the presidency.

Chávezs new six-year term began on January 10,with the president incommunicado in Havana. Now,instead of an inauguration,Chávezs followers are left to plan a funeral. Jaua announced Chávezs funeral will be held on Friday.

Whos next

Under Venezuelas constitution,the nation should proceed with an election in 30 days

NICOLAS MADURO

A former bus driver and trade unionist with Caracas public transport,the burly and moustached Maduro,50,is a staunch Chávez loyalist chosen by him as the preferred successor.

Chavez named Maduro Vice-President in October 2012,reveling in his working-class roots. He was a bus driver. How they mock him,the bourgeoisie, Chávez laughed.

HENRIQUE CAPRILES

Capriles,40,is governor of Venezuelas second most populous state,Miranda. A law graduate,Capriles became Venezuelas youngest legislator at 26.

In the October 7 presidential election,Capriles lost,but received 44 per cent of votes,the oppositions best showing against Chávez.