The gocho has passed away. He was a person who dared to dream of a better Venezuela, a cutting-edge nation. A guy who, despite his ignorance on many topics, didn’t hesitate to invite politically indifferent individuals educated at the best universities in the world to be part of his cabinet. I clearly recall his second presidency. In fact, my first vote in a presidential election was for him in ’88. The saying back then, among the jokesters at Jinaflor, went something like, “the gocho for ’88 and Carlos Andrés for ’93.” There are certain events from that period that stand out in my memory. The fare increase in the public transport and the subsequent riots and looting, known as Caracazo, caught me living in El Paraíso. I remember witnessing the looting. I recall seeing soldiers from the army allowing people from La Vega to ransack all the stores on Avenida Paez, El Paraíso, and La Paz. I remember “nené moribundo” and “cachifín” leaving with a group to San Martín and returning loaded with appliances in shopping carts. I can still picture the gunfire between the criminals from Cota 905 and the army stationed at Plaza Madariaga, and the dump trucks coming down from La Vega to dispose of the bodies.
I was impressed by the team of yuppies that CAP invited to implement economic and structural measures, which needed to be addressed promptly to steer the country back on course, as it was in dire straits back then. I remember the shortages during those years. The coup attempt by Chavez also caught me in El Paraíso. I remember thinking, “how can they let a coup leader speak on television?” The helicopters flying over downtown Caracas, dropping bombs that didn’t explode, I watched with a laugh from the rooftop of “cachifín’s” house, where we were playing dominoes. I recall CAP’s ousting, supposedly for embezzlement. And the interim presidency of Ramon J. Velazquez, and his pardon for Larry Tovar Acuña…
The death of CAP has sparked a flurry of comments. We all have an opinion about the gocho; we all remember episodes from his time in power. In my view, while trying to be objective, the gocho will go down in history as a man who made considerable efforts to modernize Venezuela. A leader willing to promote decentralizing policies. A politician who employed capable and educated individuals in a country where the connection between ability and politics was nearly nonexistent. Ultimately, a democrat who didn’t hesitate to abide by clearly politicized judicial decisions and peacefully relinquish power. In my opinion, that’s the greatness of the man—submitting to the rule of law and the supremacy of justice.