Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is pictured at his cell during his period at Yare prison (1992-94), in this undated handout photo provided by Venezuela's Ministry of Information and Communication. PHOTO: REUTERS
Venezuelans of all stripes called on Saturday for a quick presidential election as acting President Nicolas Maduro tries to benefit from an emotional outpouring for his late mentor, Hugo Chavez, and step into his shoes.
The country’s electoral commission was expected to set the election date later on Saturday. A source close to the opposition said it would likely be held April 14.
“We want new elections now. We want change. We are tired of the Chavez era. It’s been 14 years,” said Yesenia Herrera, a cook at a Chinese restaurant in an affluent quarter of Caracas.
Maduro has vowed to keep Chavez’s self-styled socialist revolution alive. He was sworn in as acting president in Congress on Friday.
“I asked (the election authority) to comply with legal and constitutional obligations and immediately call elections,” Maduro told Congress late on Friday as he cemented his position as heir-in-waiting.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2013.
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