CARACAS, Venezuela – Former Venezuelan President Jaime Lusinchi has died at age 89.
His death in Caracas from a long infection was confirmed by members of his Democractic Action party.
Lusinchi entered politics at a young age as an opponent of dictatorial rule in Venezuela and was jailed and later exiled during the 1950-1958 rule of Marcos Perez Jimenez.
As president, he struggled with an economic crisis marked by galloping inflation and a plunge in the currency that made it impossible for Venezuela to service its foreign debt.
Lusinchi recovered some of his popularity toward the end of his 1984-1989 rule by boosting salaries and applying price caps. But his reputation was forever tarnished by allegations of corruption after leaving office.
