Since When Has Hugo Liked Democracy?

Ivan,

Like you I was happy to see that Hugo Chavez lost the referendum that would have, more or less, made him a “president for life.” But I can’t see anything about his record — his suppression of the free press, his coup attempts against democratically elected leaders, his attacks on the opposition at every turn — that makes me think he will ever step down peacefully. At most, I could see him taking the “Putin route” and giving the presidency to some loyal crony while continuing to control everything from behind the scenes.