Breakfast forum: Venezuela post-Chávez: Now what?

Åse Gilje Østensen (UiB) in conversation with Iselin Åsedotter Strønen (CMI) and Leiv Marsteintredet (UiO)

After 14 years in power, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela died of cancer at age 58 on March 5th. The passing away of President Chávez has left a divided and mourning people in an uncertain political situation. The outcome of the presidential election that will be held on April 14th could be decisive for the future of the Venezuelan people, the Venezuelan nation and the region as a whole.

What are the implications of Chávez death, and what is at stake in the upcoming election? Is Acting President Maduro the likely successor, and what opposition is he facing? What parts of President Chavez's legacy will survive, and how will this shape the lives of the Venezuelan people?

With us in this breakfast forum are Iselin Åsedotter Strønen (CMI) and Leiv Marsteintredet (UiO). Strønen is an anthropologist and expert on Venezuela. In her research she focuses on the social politics of natural resource management, grass root democracy, poverty reduction, state transformation and political conflicts. Marsteintredet is a political scientist focusing on presidentialism and political crises in Latin America. He has had a particular focus on presidential interruptions, and has conducted work on numerous countries across Latin America.

This breakfast forum will be held in English. Juice, coffee and croissants will be served - all welcome!