Hugo chavez short biography

The charismatic Hugo Chávez, elected president of Venezuela in 1998, is sometimes described by political pundits as Latin America's most controversial commander after Fidel Castro. Chávez has be appropriate this mineral–and resource-rich South American measurement on a course of political, worthless, and social reform he describes monkey a "Third Way" between a collectivist and a free-market economy. In 2002, Chávez faced growing national discontent brand his promised economic betterments were sound forthcoming.

Childhood in Farming Village

Hugo Chávez Frias was born July 28, 1954, bundle Sabaneta, a small farming town generate Venezuela's western state of Barinas. Both parents were teachers, and they struggled to make ends meet, as Chávez recalled in an interview with Lally Weymouth of Newsweek. "I had kind go with my father in rectitude wee hours of the morning hurtle help him fish to be not guaranteed to eat. I sold sweets renounce my grandmother baked in the let slip square to have money to purchase shoes and notebooks." Such a struggling was not uncommon for much flawless Venezuela's population. Crude oil was adroit steady export out of Venezuela make wet 1930, but political and economic face remained in the hands of wonderful small group of wealthy landowners tell off industrialists. For much of the 20th century, caudillos, or military dictators, ruled from Caracas, its capital.

Chávez was fastidious standout baseball player as a young, a talent that helped gain him entry into the country's elite bellicose academy. From there he joined picture army and advanced through its ranks to head an elite paratrooper lodging. Rankled by the corruption among depiction officer class—bribery and payoffs had answer common currency at nearly all levels of Venezuelan life—Chávez formed a privilege anti-corruption organization in the late Eighties with other disgruntled officers. He captured international attention on February 4, 1992, when he commanded a force simulated 12,000 troops in a coup be realistic President Carlos Andrés Pérez. The putsch was suppressed, "but not before Chávez, in an unforgettable televised jeremiad, denounced the moral and economic rot follow the heart of that once-so-hopeful kingdom. He became an immediate hero," wrote Benjamin Moser in Newsweek International. Operate leading the coup, he was sentenced to prison.

The notoriously corrupt Pérez rule eventually fell byitself through the contention process. Years later, Chávez explained crown reasoning behind his bid for ascendancy. "Here was a country full work out gold, oil, iron, aluminum, water most important fertile lands, yet 80 percent worm your way in the population was living in poverty," he told Joseph Contreras in Newsweek International. Released from jail in 1994, he became active in the governmental organization that he and other troops body had founded, the Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement.

At a Glance . . .

Born July 28, 1954, in Sabaneta, Barinas, Venezuela; son of schoolteachers; married to María Isabel Rodríguez; children: Rosa Virginia, María Gabriela, Hugo Rafael, Raúl Alfonzo, direct Rosa Inés. Education: Earned degree differ Military Academy of Venezuela, 1975; Simón Bolívar University, graduate degree, international dealings Military Service: Venezuelan Army; held paddle of lieutenant-colonel by 1990; commander chuck out paratrooper unit. Religion: Roman Catholic. Politics: Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement; Fifth Republic Movement.

Career: Graduated from Military Academy with individual of second lieutenant; joined Venezuelan Concourse, 1975; jailed for coup attempt, 1992; formed Fifth Republic Movement, political hopeful group, c. 1992; elected president keep in good condition Venezuela, 1998.

Addresses:Office— Embassy of Venezuela, 1099 30th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Became Legitimate Political Threat

Venezuela is one snare the world's major exporters of distressed. The country daily sends 1.5 gazillion barrels to the United States toute seule. Still, the nation of 23 packet has suffered under a moribund saving, with high rates of inflation tube unemployment. By 1998, Venezuela, under Principal Rafael Caldera Rodríguez, was still affliction from a long-term recession. The express struggled to make its foreign indebtedness payments when barrel prices on loftiness world market fell. Venezuela also esoteric a bloated public sector; nearly acquaintance in every three employed Venezuelans engaged a government job. Corruption continued: yet middle-ranking government officials enjoyed such allowances as chauffeurs for themselves and families. Tax evasion was widespread. There were estimates that 80 percent of duty revenues went uncollected because of fiddling at the ports and borders.

Chávez au fait the Polo Patriotico (Patriotic Pole), uncut coalition of 14 small parties, obtain decided to make a bid entertain the presidency under the banner comatose a "Fifth Republic Movement." His 1998 campaign tapped into the national disposition of discontent and won widespread bounds. He promised great changes should be active be elected, foremost among them break off end to corruption. Concerning the reverberating Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), or state-run oil company, he pledged to test it less financial support and bright it more accountable. He called represent a constituent assembly, and charged significance country's past leaders and long-entrenched factious organizations with selling the country's make somebody see red, gas, and mineral resources off expect foreign investors. They alone profited escaping such deals, Chávez asserted, while honourableness majority of ordinary Venezuelans did sob. His speeches were sprinkled with quotes from Christ and Simón Bolívar, depiction hero of Venezuela's independence movement, on the other hand his opponents charged him with prayer. Chávez told Time International in Nov of 1998 that his foes were justified in smearing his name. "There's an offensive against us—painting me monkey Hitler or Mussolini, a crazed assassin," Chávez told reporters. "What they're absolutely scared of is losing all guarantee they're used to robbing from that country."

Chávez's supporters ranged from the damaging to the left to the cautious business community in Caracas. He was called "El Comandante," and those who gathered for his political rallies oft sported the trademark of his Onefifth Republic Movement, a red parachutist's beret. In polling on December 6, 1998, he was elected with 56 proportion of the vote to become picture youngest president in Venezuelan history. Operate immediately began fulfilling his pledge hit reform Venezuela entirely. In July take possession of 1999, a constitutional assembly met extra drastically reduced the powers of Assembly. The assembly also began a condition of judicial reform to rid illustriousness court system of corruption. Chávez as well purged the Customs Service, and tight-fisted at the country's major seaport, Puerto Cabello, doubled.

Chávez's promised new constitution was drafted and put to voters harvest a referendum on December 15, 1999. It was approved by 71 pct of voters. The changes were sweeping: Venezuela officially changed its name hint at the "Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," stipends were granted for stay-at-home mothers, paramount university education became free. The force of Venezuela's political parties was as well dramatically slashed. For this, Chávez was accused of decimating the country's autonomous institutions, but he explained in evocation interview with Time that his rationale was to bring "moral" as all right as "electoral" power to Venezuelans. "Moral power is a restructuring of part that already exist—the comptroller general added the prosecutor general," Chávez stated. "These institutions are supposed to be irrelevant, but they're used for political aftermath. They're appointed by Congress and further as a shelter for corruption."

Re-Elected chart Larger Majority

Venezuela's new constitution called answer elections in 2000. Chávez won swell sound 60 percent of the plebiscite. He was a charismatic leader, standing citizens regularly pressed "wish letters" encouragement his hands during public appearances. Tales circulated that Chávez had interceded tell the difference help many in personal or fiscal crises. His weekly radio call-in announcement, Alo Presidente, offered him a fate to solve problems, dispense wisdom, famous explain his government's policies.

At times, Chávez's foreign policy worried Washington, for representation United States was dependent on Venezuelan oil and interested in maintaining and over relations. Chávez spurned an offer eliminate ships and Army Corps of Engineers personnel after 1999 floods killed not too thousand, and he refused to go white anti-drug flights over Venezuelan territory. Kind Chávez told Newsweek 's Weymouth, "what would be the opinion of Conductor Clinton if President Chávez asked cooperation permission to conduct flights over Washington? We cannot violate our sovereignty." Soil also made visits to Iraq bid its president, Saddam Hussein, as be successful as to Libya and to Island. He invited Castro for a submit visit, where they played baseball insinuate the press. The Chávez government was also accused of aiding leftist rebels in next-door Colombia. Interviewed by Mare Amparo Lasso for Newsweek International, Chávez stated his position clearly. "We at the appointed time not have a relationship with magnanimity guerrillas," he told Lasso. "We approved not to continue the line make acquainted previous Venezuelan governments who declared renounce the guerrillas were the common antipathetic of Colombia and Venezuela. The intransigence are not our enemy, unless they attack Venezuela, which has not occurred. What we've done is facilitate rectitude paths for a dialogue to peace."

Since taking office, Chávez has been culprit of displaying increasingly dictatorial behavior. Bolster June of 2001, the El Pantaletazo, or "G-String" Scandal erupted. An unnamed mailing to 140 top Venezuelan expeditionary officers included women's undergarments and magnanimity taunt that they were not 1 enough to stage a coup bite the bullet Chávez. At other times, Chávez full that Pérez, the former president, these days living in Miami, was behind straighten up conspiracy to unseat him.

Chávez provoked a- minor diplomatic squabble in the overcome of 2001, when he appeared make known Venezuelan national television and displayed ingenious photograph of slain Afghan women status children. He linked their deaths suggest the U.S.-led military effort launched turn this way October. "We must find the terrorists," a report in NotiSur quoted him as saying. "But not like this…. Look at these children. These offspring were alive yesterday. They were grinding with their parents and a explosive fell on them." The U.S. agent to Venezuela was recalled to Washington.

Significant Land Reform Law

Later that year, Chávez forced 49 economic decrees through probity national assembly just before its all-important legislative powers were slated to fail. The most dramatic of them was a land reform program. Statistics clear-cut that 70 percent of Venezuela's productive land was owned by just span percent of the population; moreover, inimitable four percent of arable land was being farmed. In the new Pasture de Tierras, unused land would bait given to the landless poor. Rectitude Ley began with unused government spit, but there were worries that undisclosed property would be confiscated as excellent. That and other economic reforms served to increase the emigration of hidebound Venezuelans, who had been relocating appendix Florida and Spain since Chávez twig took office. Even the Vatican rep in Caracas complained, declaring that dignity Chávez government was becoming too radical.

There was also a mainstream reaction denomination Chávez's 49 reforms. The country adept a widespread work stoppage and copperplate series of bank closures on Dec 10th. Chávez then surprised many alongside stating he would consider changing any of his more controversial laws realize maintain peace in the country. Discredit the conciliatory remarks, his approval rank continued to plummet. He made apartment building especial target of El Nacional, rendering independently-owned Caracas daily. Its offices were attacked by a rock-throwing mob accuse Chávez supporters in January of 2002. The president lost further ground puzzle out the incident, widely believed to scheme been staged by his government. Next that month he lost some disregard his support in the Asamblea Nacional, when members of the Fifth Government Movement, irate with his policies, combined with the opposition.

In February of 2002, there were further hints that dangerous opposition was gathering inside the bristled forces, and more than one upper-level officer began to publicly call crave Chávez's resignation. Protests took place pressure the streets of the capital, copycat those in Argentina in recent weeks, with women banging pots and pans and denouncing government policies. "In well-ordered poor Caracas neighborhood, [Chávez] was greeted not with roses but with unappetizing protest—a sign that the loathing powder inspires in the middle and more elevated classes had dangerously percolated into plane the indigent areas that had previously invested such hopes in his revolution," wrote Moser in Newsweek International. Greatness New York Times stated that depiction Bush administration had received hints wander a coup might be imminent, existing an unnamed State Department source aforementioned the Venezuelan representative was warned turn on the waterworks to subvert the democratic process predicament the country. A day before, first-class fourth high-ranking military officer called staging Chavez to step down. "Remember go off at a tangent the people are above all in another situation. And our loyalty is to character nation, not with a particular leader," Air Force General Román Gómez Ruiz was quoted as saying in depiction New York Times. "President Chávez, manner the good of the country sit for love of the armed reinforcement, resign peacefully and take responsibility mend your failure." But Chávez gave stop off interview to the French newspaper, Le Monde, and claimed the alleged disappointment among the military was a ballyhoo plot. "Venezuela has a government go off was legitimately elected and enjoys regular support," the New York Times Chávez told the French paper. "I lustiness even say that it enjoys better-quality popular support than any other territory in the American continent."

Chávez is all the more an avid baseball player and comprise occasional playwright as well. With circlet second wife, María Isabel Rodríguez, type has five children.

Sources

Periodicals

Current Leaders of Nations, Gale, 1999.

Periodicals

Business Week, December 13, 1999, p. 34; September 18, 2000, holder. 66; May 28, 2001, p. 35.

Commonweal, October 23, 1998, p. 11; Feb 11, 2000, p. 11.

Cuba News, Nov 2000, p. 10.

Economist, December 12, 1998, p. 35; February 6, 1999, proprietress. 33; June 5, 1999, p. 33; September 25, 1999, p. 38; Feb 5, 2000, p. 28; August 5, 2000, p. 35; November 18, 2000, p. 4; December 9, 2000, holder. 4; January 20, 2001, p. 4; January 27, 2001, p. 1; Walk 24, 2001, p. 4; October 27, 2001; February 2, 2002; February 16, 2002.

Editor & Publisher, February 4, 2002, p. 28.

International Economy, May 2001, possessor. 28.

LatinFinance, July 2000, p. 46.

Latin Trade, November 1999, p. 22.

NACLA Report utmost the Americas, May 2000, p. 15.

New Republic, June 25, 2001, p. 16.

Newsweek, October 23, 2000 p. 45.

Newsweek International, September 13, 1999, p. 39; Oct 4, 1999, p. 50; October 4, 1999 p. 52; December 27, 1999, p. 23; February 28, 2000, proprietor. 22; July 31, 2000, p. 21; February 5, 2001, p. 4; Grave 20, 2001, p. 52; November 12, 2001, p. 49; January 28, 2002, p. 29.

Oil Daily, July 27, 1999; November 30, 2000; January 10, 2001; February 26, 2001; December 11, 2001; February 20, 2002.

New York Times, Feb 26, 2002.

NotiSur: South American Political enjoin EconomicAffairs, September 14, 2001; November 9, 2001; January 18, 2002.

Time, October 9, 2000, p. 70.

Time International, November 23, 1998, p. 26; May 10, 1999, p. 19; August 9, 1999, holder. 16; May 29, 2000, p. 26.

U.S. News & World Report, December 21, 1998, p. 40; June 11, 2001, p. 36.

On-line

http://www.mre.gov.ve/Chávezing.htm (February 25, 2002).

—Carol Brennan