Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday after a two-year battle with pelvic tumor cancer.
Chavez was recently re-elected for a fourth time in an election some say was fraught with voting malpractice. He recently tried to institute into law the ability to run for the presidential office "indefinitely," according to a report by NBC News.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro is set to be sworn in Friday ahead of a special election to be held within 30 days, according to NBC News.
Throughout his 14-year rule, Chavez often evoked [independence hero Simon] Bolivar's image, claiming his socialite state was just the next stage in Bolivar's campaign to liberate the continent from outside domination," one NBC reporter said. "His supporters were largely poor Venezuelans who depended on the government for jobs and and low food prices."
Sean Penn, a friend of Chavez said, "poor people around the world lost a champion."
However, some Venezuelans called the pomp and circumstance surrounding his death excessive.
"He was a president, and I would say not a good one. Not a hero," Gloria Ocampos, a retired office manager, told the Associated Press. "He should be buried, just like any other president. They are treating him like he was the father of the country ... It's crazy."
Representing the United States at the state funeral were two Democratic politicians, New York Congressman Representative Greg Meeks and former Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt.
"My deepest sympathies go out to the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela," Meeks said in a statement. "Venezuela is an important nation to the Western Hemisphere. I remain committed to building the relationship between our nations. As always I stand in continued support of the Venezuelan people especiall at this time of mourning."
The son of two school teachers, Chavez had a strict military upbringing. In the early 1980s, and early 1990s, he led two unsuccessful military coups, the second landed him in jail for two years. He was ultimately pardoned and assumed office within a decade by launching his own political party.
As president, he was vehemently anti-U.S., particularly against George W. Bush. He forged alliances with some of America's fiercest enemies, including Fidel Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad .The latter attended his funeral
"His death unleashed an outpouring of grief from his most loyal supporters, known as Chavistas. They filled the streets of Caracas for Wednesday's six-mile funeral profession and waited in line for hours to see his body at the military academy," NBC News reported.
The body will remain there for a week and then go on permanent display at a military museum.
