Hugo Chavez Dead at 58; Venezuelan President Battled Cancer, New Elections To Be Held

Hugo Chavez, one of the most powerful, controversial and influential political figures in South America, died on Tuesday after his battle with cancer, Vice President Nicolas Maduro confirmed.

He was 58.

According to the New York Times, Chavez, who had presided over Venezuela for 14 years with his socialist regime, was battling cancer and being treated in a military hospital at the time of his death.

Vice President Maduro had gone to see Chavez Tuesday at the hospital, when "we received the hardest and most tragic information that we could transmit to our people."

Chavez had just been reelected to a fourth term in 2012, though he was never sworn in due to the poor status of his health, CBS notes.

In his 14 years of power, Chavez became a polarizing figure within his own country, with some admiring him as a hero and others criticizing him as an oppressor who attacked civil liberties.

Rep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement after word of Chavez's death broke, CBS reports.

"Hugo Chavez was a destabilizing force in Latin America, and an obstacle to progress in the region. I hope his death provides an opportunity for a new chapter in U.S.-Venezuelan relations," the statement read.

Venezuelan law says that in the event of the president's death, the vice president will take over while elections are held within the next 30 days, meaning that Maduro will likely face off against Henrique Capriles Radonski, a state governor who was defeated by Chavez in the last election.

In another twist, Maduro blamed the U.S. for Chavez's death, saying that the fallen leader suffered from the cancer of enemies and expelled two American diplomats--one of them U.S. military attaché David Delmonaco--from the country, accusing them of espionate and conspiring against the Venezuelan government.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Caracas has no immediate comment, only stating, "I'm sure we will be formulating some sort of response from Washington."