There’s a new political boss in Venezuela. So far, he’s acting just like the old boss.
Hugo Chávez was purportedly still in his death throes last week when his designated political heir, eager to snatch the reins of power before anyone could stop him, signaled that he was just as capable of playing the anti-American card as the dying president by summarily expelling two U.S. military attachés from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
The stated reason — that they were conspiring against the Venezuelan government — is nonsense. No evidence was put forward. But it conveniently served as a way for Vice President Nicolás Maduro to let Venezuelans know early on that (1) he was in charge and (2) he intends to follow in the late president’s political footsteps.