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April 14th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
With that, the maverick legislator speeds off, roaring with laughter at the
latest game of cat-and-mouse with the Chavez family, who he describes as
Barinas’s answer to a royal family.
His campaign to highlight how the Chavez clan has enriched itself has plenty
of sympathisers in Barinas, a poor town which sits humid agricultural plains
300 miles southwest of Caracas in one of Venezuela’s regions.
Here the late-president’s family owns 17 country estates, totalling more than
100,000 acres, in addition to liquid assets of $550 million (£360 million)
stored in various international bank accounts, according to Venezuelan news
website Noticias Centro.
While ordinary Venezuelans suffer growing food shortages and 23 per cent
inflation, the Chavez family trades in US dollars that now fetch four times
the official bank rate on the black market.
Living in numerous mansions in Alto Barinas, the city’s most affluent
district, the family and their children live a life of privilege, says Mr
Azuaje, whose wife left him to marry into wealth and now lives next to the
Chavez mansions.
“My daughter goes to school with the Chavez kids”, he explained. “She
told me that the school dining hall has waiting staff to serve and clean up
after the kids”.
Despite the death of the clan’s charismatic leader last month, the Chavez
family nevertheless continue to hold sway as the ruling Socialist Party
seeks to continue the Revolution that “El Comandante” started 14
years ago.
Nicolas Maduro, the 51-year-old former bus driver who Chavez designated as his
successor, opened his campaign with a televised interview flanked by
prominent members of Clan Chavez, who gave their all-important blessing to
his candidacy.
“The family is here with you”, proclaimed eldest son Adan, who is
the governor of Barinas state. “Nicolas Maduro can be ratified before
the Venezuelan people and continue the Bolivarian revolution”.
If Mr Maduro, as polls predict, wins Sunday’s election, the Chavez family,
which has members spread throughout all branches of the Venezuelan
government, is unlikely to be called to account for its conspicuous
affluence any time soon.
The second of seven children, Hugo Chavez’s stellar career brought fame and
power to his family. His father, a former schoolteacher, served three terms
as Barinas state governor, before turning to real estate development.
Another brother, Argenis Chavez, is Venezuela’s energy minister.
The impoverished region was showered with government-funded social projects,
which explains why many poorer residents still support the Chavez family,
despite the allegations of corruption and the food shortages that leave
three-hour queues at the supermarket for basic provisions.
“We are very pleased with the Chavez family, they have done great things
in our state”, said Leonardo Osoyardo, a 33-year-old ‘Chavista’ who
works in one of the state’s social projects. “Everyone in Barinas is
content with them”.
That is not exactly true.
“Barinas is the worst state in Venezuela, and it’s the fault of the
Chavez family”, said José Vitriago, a 56-year-old street kiosk vendor
who voted for Chavez in all three of his presidential campaigns.
“It’s pure corruption, and Hugo Chavez allowed it all happen.
“They take the money that’s intended to help the people, and they put it
in their own pockets. They’re buying country estates and apartments in the
United States while we have nothing”.
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