Thousands in Caracas mourn Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, as country considers legacy

Thousands filled the streets of Caracas today to mourn long-time Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, who died Tuesday from cancer. Chavez was first elected president in 1998 and in his nearly 15 years in leadership, he established popular education and health programs and redirected the country’s oil wealth, from multinational corporations, such as Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips. In 2002, Chavez was briefly removed from power in a coup that was supported by the administration of then-US President George W. Bush. While Chavez was admired by many on the left, watchdog groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized him for restricting media, and using “threats” and “harassment” during last year’s election. For more, we’re joined by Virginia Lopez, in Caracas. She’s a journalist with The Guardian.