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(Image Source: Sky News)
BY JASMINE BAILEY
Venezuela
swore in a new president Saturday — former vice president Nicolas Maduro.
This
comes just hours after the country said its final goodbye to the late president Hugo Chavez.
The 58-year-old died on March 5 after his two-year battle with cancer.
At Maduro’s
swearing-in ceremony Venezuelans continued to memorialize Chavez.
“Chavez is
in our hearts and nobody will stop the fight. We know more now than ever that his legacy
will live on.”
Chavez named Maduro as his successor before dying but Maduro will
only hold the title a few weeks, as the country’s interim president until elections are held
within the next month.
At the ceremony, Chavez was praised for leadership
that “widened social divisions” and internalized the country’s oil wealth — pouring it
into social projects. And that, as The New York Times points out, has some wondering
if any successor can live up to his larger than life image.
“Many doubt that
any successor will be as adept at fostering support amid the nation’s economic problems.”
Some
of those problems include: • An annual inflation rate of more than
20% • Widening corruption— ranked number 165
in the world by Transparency International • Extensive crime rates
When elections begin Nicolas Maduro is expected to run against opposition candidate
Henrique Capriles — just as Hugo Chavez did back in October’s election.