In crisis-hit Venezuela, even opponents miss Chavez
Since Hugo Chavez died two years ago, Venezuela's economy has tanked and the government has lurched toward more repressive tactics, triggering nostalgia among the late leftist firebrand's supporters and even his opponents.
Chavez's hand-picked successor, President Nicolas Maduro, has largely followed his mentor's script for "21st-century socialism," right down to the hours-long diatribes against "American imperialism" and the tracksuits in the colors of the Venezuelan flag.
But without Chavez's charisma, he has struggled to rekindle the fervor that drew millions of Venezuelans into the streets in mourning on March 5, 2013, the day Chavez died after 14 years in power.
Maduro's approval rating has fallen to around 20 percent -- 10 points lower than Chavez's record low -- putting their United Socialist Party at risk of defeat in legislative elections this year, when the opposition hopes to win control of the National Assembly.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/crisis-hit-venezuela-even-opponents-miss-chavez-003126578.html
