The prominent Venezuelan political leader Darío Vívas died this Thursday, after almost a month fighting against Covid-19, a disease that he announced he had contracted on July 19. The physical departure of the well-known revolutionary leader, who accompanied Hugo Chávez in his struggles since the 1990s, shocked the Venezuelan political world and provoked heartfelt messages of farewell from his friends and fellow “companeros”.
“It is with deep regret that we receive the unfortunate news of the death of our good friend Darío Vivas: a full-fledged revolutionary with whom we have shared, since the 1980s, in the streets of Caracas, courageous struggles in defense of the people and the homeland,” wrote the Prosecutor General of the republic, Tarek William Saab, on his account of the social network Twitter, in which he shared a photo with him and many other members of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR), the source party for the PSUV.
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- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said : “An immense sadness fills our hearts for the physical departure of a great brother in life, Darío Vivas. A bulletproof revolutionary who was in charge of a thousand battles and struggles alongside the people. A big hug to your family and friends. # HastaLaVictoriaSiempreDarío.”
- Diosdado Cabello, vice president of the PSUV, who is recovering from the coronavirus, said: “What a sadness my compa, with Darío a true Patriot, tireless fighter, part of his family, friends, colleagues a hug of regret and pain, our Darío Vivas is without doubt an example to be followed by revolutionaries, men and women. Honor and glory for a warrior!”
- The Venezuelan journalist and Minister of Culture, Ernesto Villegas, wrote : “There are cadres whose strength, loyalty and capacity are equivalent to a revolutionary contingent. This is the case of Darío Vivas, an incomparable gladiator that Covid-19 has just snatched from Venezuela and his family. The homeland will always have him as an example of loving dedication. Honor and glory!”
- The executive vice president, Delcy Rodríguez , wrote in her account on social networks: “Martí said: ‘Death is not true when the work of life has been well accomplished.’ Our brother Darío Vivas, a Bolivarian with an exemplary trajectory, passes away, deputy, constituent, vice president of Mobilization of PSUV and head of the Capital District.”
- Constituent Tania Díaz, PSUV vice president of communications, asked Darío be remembered “for what he was: a tireless worker, a full-time revolutionary at the service of his people.”
- Former Colombian senator and political leader Piedad Córdoba said : “I express deep sorrow for the death of my friend Darío Vivas. As a leader, partner and worker, he contributed a lot to the people of his country. My condolences to his family and to the PSUV.
Vivas, who served as Vice President of Organization and Mobilization of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), was born in Caracas on June 12, 1950.
He was a deputy of the National Assembly for two consecutive periods, from 2010 to mid-2017. On July 30, 2017, he was elected as a member of the National Constituent Assembly for the Capital District.
He also served as president of the ANTV channel, and actively defended the rights of its workers in 2015, when the opposition won a majority in parliament and its leaders threatened to dismantle the station and dismiss part of its workers.
He held the position Head of the Government of the Capital District since January 29, 2020, a task entrusted by President Nicolás Maduro. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he actively worked leading disinfection days and constantly urged the public, from the periphery, to stay in their homes and comply with the rules of social distancing and disinfection.
Featured image: File photo.
Translation: OT/JRE/EF
