Last month The Socialist Review published a review of: “Hugo Chavez Presents Simon Bolivar: The Bolivarian Revolution” which was released in mid-August. See: SourceThe book, which is composed of Bolivar’s works features an introduction by Chavez who claims to continue Bolivar’s struggles to unite South America; however this time U.S ‘imperialism’ has replaced the Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century.
The review states that in the introduction Chavez attempts to adapt Bolivar’s philosophy and ideas to fit his own political agenda. Apparently Chavez hints at the idea that Bolivar was leaning towards socialist politics.
Furthermore, the reviewer points out that Bolivar had contradictory politics and that in his "Address to the Constituent Congress in Bolivia" declared that the country required a “president for life” in order to guard the country from the “tyranny of democracy”. Interestingly enough in February 2009 in Venezuela the term limits were abolished in a referendum allowing for Chavez to run for re-election in 2012.
