MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Chavism” (like Argentina’s Peronism) for a long time to come, forecasts Mujica

Juan Domingo Peron and Evita, a myth that dominate Argentine politics

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica compared the future of Chavism in Venezuela with that of the Argentine Justicialista Party, which had in Juan Domingo Peron and his wife Evita Peron their maximum leaders (and caudillos), and even today in the almost hegemonic political movement in Argentina.

On his return to Uruguay from the official funeral of Hugo Chavez, Mujica said that “Chavism without Chavez is going to last for a long time” and admitted being impressed by the massive turnout of the Venezuelan people to see their leader for the last time.

“I can’t say if Chavez funeral had a greater popular reaction than that of Evita Peron back in July, 1952, I was young, we didn’t have the communications systems we have now, but I remember everybody saying how impressive it was. But my experience with Chavez and the Venezuelan people is overwhelming, it’s hard to believe”, admitted Mujica.

He added that “now we are going to see a ‘Chavist’ process without Chavez become a political movement with extraordinary characteristics, something like Justicialismo with Peron and Evita in Argentina and it will last for a long time. And this is so because there is a gigantic aura surrounding Chavez that you see and feel expressed in many different ways. In politics you can discuss programs, ideas, plans but it is hard to beat a myth”.

Mujica added that the Venezuelan society is ‘highly politicized’ and “the most popular sectors feel committed” to the process started by Chavez, a true leader and a very generous man.

Finally as to the future of Latinamerican integration and Venezuela, the last full member to be accepted by Mercosur, Mujica had no doubts: “we won’t see any fundamental changes, since Venezuela needs Mercosur and Mercosur needs of Venezuela”.