The death of president Hugo Chávez in March marked the end of an era for Venezuela. Many throughout the region mourned his passing, because of his combination of charisma and populist policies.
However, Chávez’s larger-than-life persona masked serious underlying economic issues that the new administration has yet to deal with – and it is doubtful that Nicolas Maduro, Chávez’s chosen successor, has the requisite charm to continue diverting the public’s attention.
Nelson Merentes, the recently appointed finance minister, has voiced optimistic predictions of lower inflation and higher growth figures for the remainder of 2013, but analysts say the economic outlook isn’t showing any signs of improving.
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