Controversy over legacy of Venezuela's independence hero

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Simon Bolivar, the independence hero of Venezuela, can be seen everywhere in the country. He liberated much of South America from Spanish colonial rule. Almost every town here has a square named after him.

Over the last 18 years, under this country's left wing government, Bolivar has gone from being ever present to, nearly, omnipresent. Hugo Chavez called his leftist movement the "Bolivarian Revolution." In 1999, the country's official name became the "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela." The army is called the "Bolivarian Armed Forces." And its constitution, the "Bolivarian Constitution."

But opposition supporters have long been troubled by chavismo's adoption of Bolivar. In fact, they argue that if he were alive now, he would be a freedom fighter, as they say, they are.

The government of current President Nicolas Maduro, nevertheless, is convinced that Bolivar would be on its side. When 13 senior officials were recently sanctioned by the US, the president awarded them each with a replica of his sword. When the new constituent assembly was inaugurated, his portrait, along with those of Chavez, were brought along.

It might be a common perception that if there was one thing that was not controversial, it would be this country's independence hero. But now, even Venezuela’s national hero is in dispute.

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