Venezuela replaces Chavez murals with "Venezuela Renace" branding amid political shift

Caracas streets are seeing Chavez and other chavista portraits painted over with bright blue and yellow banners that proclaim "Venezuela renace," a campaign launched after the June 24 earthquakes that killed at least 6,500 people. Artist Victor Rodriguez, known as Forastero, who helped create a Chavez mural for the former president’s birthday, now views preserving such images as resistance to U.S. pressure on the government.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, formerly Maduro’s vice president, is using the new branding to build a distinct political identity focused on reconstruction, according to political scientist Orlando Perez. The move has sparked debate within the chavista movement, with figures like governor Freddy Bernal opposing the removal of the portraits. Ordinary Venezuelans such as retiree Javier Hernandez welcome the disappearance of chavista symbols but remain skeptical of any real improvement, noting ongoing hardship and slow rebuilding in earthquake-hit areas like La Guaira.