PLEASE NOTE: My post is my opinion, from my knowledge and the people I know and have talked to.
I really think He wasnt as bad of a guy that people say. He was Labeled a bad guy to america for being against some of our beliefs. Yes, there was many deaths, which is very bad (Much of this is Criminal activity), but there were many good sides to him. He fought for the Poor of his country, and was one of the better leaders because of what he did tot the poor. He Redistributed land and Oil for his country, which helped them out. He Did what he thought was the best for the people who needed it, even if it meant Taking money from the rich.
So to Sum it up: Was he Bad from the US standpoint? Yes. Was he bad from the Riches standpoint? Yes. Was he Bad from the Poor's standpoint? No. He tried to improve the situation he had by helping the people who need it the most.
I'll begin by pointing out that redistribution of wealth may sound like a nice idea in thought, horrible in application. Not to mention it's a blatant violation of individual rights.
He wasn't bad from poor people's standpoint? That is highly debatable. Hugo Chavez destroyed Venezuela's economy. The only reason he was able to keep it all hazardously glued together was because of the sheer oil money. A poor economy affects everybody, specially those who stand at the bottom of the money chain. Then there's the constant brainwashing and information manipulation. Freedom of expression in Venezuela was limited, and that's the light way to put it. The media was constantly controlled and regulated. Elections were rigged. Chavez wiped his arse every morning with the Constitution. Regardless of what he may or may not have done for the poor (He did do some good, I am not denying that. So did Hitler, depending on individual perspective) the fact remains that he was an evil, military meatheaded dictator with a human rights violation curriculum that would awe any passerby.
Usually though you have a picked successor that is a public figure to take over, or if the nation is strong enough in the belief of the system (Soviet Union after Lenin and Stalins deaths) there will be a figure able to take over, or China)
Venezuela has neither at this time, as there isn't a strong enough belief with the system. Chavez was all they knew about the system, with him gone there is a good chance that they change direction and become more democratic (but anything is possible.)
You watch Maduro...