Some marked Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez’s death with tears; others with cheers.

Many of those interested in politics or how our world works will be familiar with the anecdote about the diplomat from Maoist China on a visit to Paris some decades ago. When asked how he thought the 1789 French Revolution had worked out he answered: “It’s far, far too early to say.”

It was with much sadness that I learnt of the death of the President of Venezuela, a man whom put himself forward to the people 14 times.