Germany wants new era in Venezuela after Chavez

Westerwelle said in a statement that he counted on Venezuela now entering “a new period after days of mourning” Chavez, who died Tuesday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer.

He said the country had “great potential, and democracy and freedom are the right way to achieve this potential” after the populist leftist firebrand’s death.

“We feel sympathy for the pain of the deceased’s family and the grief of the Venezuelan people,” Westerwelle added.

AFP/mry