Chavez´s ex wife and now his political foe to run for local elections

Caracas, Venezuela, 14 June 2008. Today, 43-year-old Marisabel Rodriguez -the ex wife of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez- announced her intention to run for Mayor of Barquisimeto, western Venezuela, after receiving the backing of opposition party Podemos.

Mrs Rodriguez - a radio broadcaster -comes from a wealthy family in Barquisimeto. After becoming a widow, Marisabel Rodriguez married candidate Chavez to divorce him as President in 2004. During the 2002 coup against Chavez, the couple was already separated. However, Mrs Rodriguez was pivotal in telling the world about the nature of the coup and clarifying Chavez had not resigned to power.  

Marisabel Rodriguez has always been related to rightist Catholic groups in the country. As a Constituent Assembly member, she was prone to oppose gay rights or discussion on abortion.  Politically, Mrs Rodriguez has always bent towards the right. An old maverick politician and rigthist member of government, Luis Miquelena, backed her while her marriage was falling apart. Both Miquelena and Mrs Rodrigue now oppose Chavez.

During the tragic mud slides in Vargas in 1999, near Caracas, Rodriguez was allegedly involved in illegal orphan child negotiations for adoptions. As she was the official first lady then, such allegations were not investigated fully.  Since her divorce from Chavez, Mrs Rodriguez has become one his flamboyant critics. Opposition parties and leaders usually invite her for parading and conferences. She is now married to her former tennis trainer. She gave Chavez a daughter.  

Sources: El Universal, Prinside, USAToday, Chron,