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[[Image:Kircher Chavez.jpg|thumb|upright|Chávez and former Argentina President [[Néstor Kirchner]] discuss energy and trade integration projects for South America. They met on November 21, 2005 in [[Venezuela]].]]
[[Image:Kircher Chavez.jpg|thumb|upright|Chávez and former Argentina President [[Néstor Kirchner]] discuss energy and trade integration projects for South America. They met on November 21, 2005 in [[Venezuela]].]]


Chávez has refocused Venezuelan [[foreign policy]] on [[Latin America]]n economic and social integration by enacting bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements, including his so-called "oil diplomacy".<ref>The Economist. (''The Economist'', July 28, 2005). [http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4232330 "Using oil to spread revolution"]. Retrieved June 11, 2005.</ref><ref>''Guyana Diary''. (''Monthly Newsletter of the Guyana Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela'', February 2004). [http://www.guyana.org/Update/guyana_diary_feb2004.html "Guyana to Try for Better Oil Rates Under Caracas Accord".] Retrieved June 14, 2006." Under the Caracas Energy Accord, countries can purchase oil supplies on concessional terms. It complements the terms of the San Jose Agreement, through which Venezuela offers special financial conditions to signatory oil-buying countries."</ref> Chávez stated that Venezuela has "a strong oil card to play on the geopolitical stage..." He said, "It is a card that we are going to play with toughness against the toughest country in the world, the United States."<ref>Blum, Justin (''Washington Post'', November 22, 2005). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/21/AR2005112101800.html "Chavez Pushes Petro-Diplomacy"]. Retrieved November 29, 2005.</ref> Chávez has focused on a variety of multinational institutions to promote his vision of Latin American integration, including [[Petrocaribe]], Petrosur, and [[TeleSUR]]. Bilateral trade relationships with other Latin American countries have also played a major role in his policy, with Chávez increasing arms purchases from [[Brazil]], forming oil-for-expertise trade arrangements with [[Cuba]], and creating unique [[barter]] arrangements that exchange Venezuelan petroleum for cash-strapped Argentina's meat and dairy products. Additionally, Chávez worked closely with other Latin American leaders following the 1997 [[Summit of the Americas]] in many areas&mdash;especially energy integration&mdash;and championed the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] decision to adopt the Anti-Corruption Convention. Chávez also participates in the [[United Nations]] Friends groups for [[Haiti]], and is pursuing efforts to join and engage the [[Mercosur]] trade bloc to expand the hemisphere's trade integration prospects.
Chávez has refocused Venezuelan [[foreign policy]] on [[Latin America]]n economic and social integration by enacting bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements, including his so-called "oil diplomacy".<ref>The Economist. (''The Economist'', July 28, 2005). [http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4232330 "Using oil to spread revolution"]. Retrieved June 11, 2005.</ref><ref>''Guyana Diary''. (''Monthly Newsletter of the Guyana Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela'', February 2004). [http://www.guyana.org/Update/guyana_diary_feb2004.html "Guyana to Try for Better Oil Rates Under Caracas Accord".] Retrieved June 14, 2006." Under the Caracas Energy Accord, countries can purchase oil supplies on concessional terms. It complements the terms of the San Jose Agreement, through which Venezuela offers special financial conditions to signatory oil-buying countries."</ref> Chávez stated that Venezuela has "a strong oil card to play on the geopolitical stage..." He said, "It is a card that we are going to play with toughness against the toughest country in the world, the United States."<ref>Blum, Justin (''Washington Post'', November 22, 2005). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/21/AR2005112101800.html "Chavez Pushes Petro-Diplomacy"]. Retrieved November 29, 2005.</ref> Chávez has focused on a variety of multinational institutions to promote his vision of Latin American integration, including [[Petrocaribe]], Petrosur, and [[TeleSUR]]. Bilateral trade relationships with other Latin American countries have also played a major role in his policy, with Chávez increasing arms purchases from [[Brazil]], forming oil-for-expertise trade arrangements with [[Cuba]], and creating unique [[barter]] arrangements that exchange Venezuelan petroleum for cash-strapped Argentina's meat and dairy products. Additionally, Chávez worked closely with other Latin American leaders following the 1997 [[Summit of the Americas]] in many areas&mdash;especially energy integration&mdash;and championed the [[Organization of American States|OAS]] decision to adopt the Anti-Corruption Convention. Chávez also participates in the [[United Nations]] Friends groups for [[Haiti]], and is pursuing efforts to join and engage the [[Mercosur]] trade bloc to expand the hemisphere's trade integration prospects. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.pravda.ru/russia/politics/10-09-2009/109196-chavez_moscow-0|title=Hugo Chavez in Moscow Thinks First, Then Speaks|accessdate=2009-09-21 |date=2009-10-01 |publisher=Pravda.ru}}</ref>


===Economic policy===
===Economic policy===

Revision as of 11:17, 2 October 2009

Hugo Chávez
President of Venezuela
Assumed office
February 2, 1999
Vice PresidentIsaías Rodríguez
Adina Bastidas
Diosdado Cabello
José Vicente Rangel
Jorge Rodríguez
Ramón Carrizales
Preceded byRafael Caldera
Personal details
Born (1954-07-28) July 28, 1954 (age 70)
Sabaneta, Venezuela
Political partyUnited Socialist Party (2008–present)
Other political
affiliations
Fifth Republic Movement (1997–2008)
Spouse(s)Nancy Colmenares (Div.)
Marisabel Rodríguez (Div.)
OccupationMilitary officer (Lt. col.)

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈuɣo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβes ˈfɾi.as]) (born July 28, 1954) is the President of Venezuela. As the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Chávez promotes a political doctrine of participatory democracy, socialism and Latin American and Caribbean cooperation.[1] He is also a critic of neoliberalism, globalization, and United States foreign policy.[2]

A career military officer, Chávez founded the left-wing Fifth Republic Movement after orchestrating a failed 1992 coup d'état against former President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Chávez was elected President in 1998 with a campaign centering on promises of aiding Venezuela's poor majority, and was reelected in 2000 and in 2006. Domestically, Chávez has maintained nationwide Bolivarian Missions, whose goals are to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other social ills. Abroad, Chávez has acted against the Washington Consensus by supporting alternative models of economic development, and has advocated cooperation among the world's poor nations, especially those in Latin America.

Chávez's policies have evoked controversy in Venezuela and abroad, receiving everything from vehement criticism to enthusiastic support. The government of the United States claims that Chávez is a threat to democracy in Latin America.[3] Many other governments sympathize with his ideology[4] or welcome his bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements.[5] In 2005 and 2006 he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.[6][7]

Early life (1954–1992)

Chávez was born on July 28, 1954 in the town of Sabaneta, Barinas. The second son of two schoolteachers, Hugo de los Reyes Chávez and Elena Frías de Chávez. He is the younger brother of the current governor of Barinas Adán Chávez. The family is of mixed Amerindian, Afro-Venezuelan, and Spanish descent.[8] Chávez was born in a mud hut near Sabaneta. Due to the Chávez family's impoverished conditions, Hugo Chávez was sent to Sabaneta with his older brother Adán to live with his paternal grandmother, Rosa Inés Chávez. There, he pursued hobbies such as painting, singing, and baseball, while also attending elementary school at the Julián Pino School. He was later forced to relocate to the town of Barinas to attend high school at the Daniel Florencio O'Leary School.[9]

Military career

At age seventeen, Chávez enrolled at the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences. After graduating in 1975 as a sub-lieutenant with a degree in Military Arts and Science, Chávez entered military service for several months. He was then allowed to pursue graduate studies in political science at Caracas' Simón Bolívar University, but left without a degree.[9]

Over the course of his college years, Chávez and fellow students developed a left-wing nationalist doctrine that they termed "Bolivarianism," inspired by the Pan-American philosophy of 19th century Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, the influence of former Peruvian President Juan Velasco and the thought of various socialist and communist leaders including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky.[10][11] Chávez engaged in sporting events and cultural activities during these years as well. He played both baseball and softball with the Criollitos de Venezuela, progressing with them to the Venezuelan National Baseball Championships in 1969. Chávez also wrote numerous poems, stories and theatrical pieces.[9]

Upon completing his studies, Chávez initially entered active-duty military service as a member of a counter insurgency battalion stationed in Barinas. Chávez's military career lasted 17 years, during which time he held a variety of posts including command and staff positions, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Chávez also held a series of teaching and staffing positions at the Academy of Military Sciences, where he was first acknowledged by his peers for his fiery lecturing style and radical critique of Venezuelan government and society.[12] In 1983, Chávez established the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200). Afterwards, he rose to a number of high-level positions in Caracas and was decorated several times.[9]

Personal life

Chávez has been married twice. He first wedded Nancy Colmenares, a woman from a poor family originating in Chávez's own hometown of Sabaneta. Chávez and Colmenares remained married for eighteen years, during which time they had three children: Rosa Virginia, María Gabriela, and Hugo Rafael. They separated soon after Chávez's 1992 coup attempt. During his first marriage, Chávez also had an affair with young historian Herma Marksman; their relationship lasted nine years.[13][14] Chávez is divorced from his second wife, journalist Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez.[15] Through that marriage, Chávez had another daughter, Rosinés. Chávez has two grandchildren, Gabriela[16] and Manuel.[17]

Chávez was raised a Roman Catholic,[18] although he has had a series of disputes with both the Venezuelan Catholic hierarchy and Protestant groups like the New Tribes Mission.[19][20] Originally he kept his own faith a private matter, but over the course of his presidency, Chávez has become increasingly open to discussing his religious views, stating that both his faith and his interpretation of Jesus' personal life and ideology have had a profound impact on his left-wing and progressivist views.[21] He often invokes God and asks for prayer in speeches, as he did when he asked Venezuelans to pray for Fidel Castro's health.[22] He describes himself as Christian who grew up expecting to become a priest. According to him, as a result of this background his socialist policies have been borne with roots in the teachings of Jesus Christ.[23]

Political development

Coup attempt of 1992

File:Hugo Chávez (1992 Coup Surrender).jpg
Chávez calls for the surrender of all forces on national television.

After an extended period of popular dissatisfaction and economic decline[24] [dead link] under the administration of President Carlos Andrés Pérez and the violent repression known as El Caracazo,[25] Chávez made extensive preparations for a military coup d'état.[13] Initially planned for December, Chávez delayed the MBR-200 coup until the early twilight hours of February 4, 1992. On that date, five army units under Chávez's command moved into urban Caracas with the mission of assaulting and overwhelming key military and communications installations throughout the city, including the Miraflores presidential palace, the defense ministry, La Carlota military airport, and the Military Museum. Chávez's ultimate goal was to intercept and take custody of Pérez, who was returning to Miraflores from an overseas trip.

Chávez held the loyalty of less than 10% of Venezuela's military forces.[26] Numerous betrayals, defections, errors, and other unforeseen circumstances soon left Chávez and a small group of rebels hiding in the Military Museum, without any means of conveying orders to their network of spies and collaborators spread throughout Venezuela.[27] Further, Chávez's allies were unable to broadcast their prerecorded tapes on the national airwaves in which Chávez planned to issue a general call for a mass civilian uprising against Pérez. As the coup unfolded, the coup plotters [who?] were unable to capture Pérez: fourteen soldiers were killed, and 50 soldiers and some 80 civilians injured in the ensuing violence.[28]

Chávez, alarmed, soon gave himself up to the government. He was then allowed to appear on national television to call for all remaining rebel detachments in Venezuela to cease hostilities. When he did so, Chávez quipped on national television that he had only failed "por ahora" (for now).[29] Chávez was catapulted into the national spotlight, with many poor Venezuelans seeing him as a figure who had stood up against government corruption and kleptocracy.[30][31] Chávez was sent to Yare prison; meanwhile, Pérez, the coup's intended target, was impeached a year later. While in prison, Chávez developed a carnosity of the eye, which spread to his iris. The clarity of his eyesight was slowly corrupted; despite treatments and operations, Chávez's eyesight was permanently damaged.[21]

Political rise (1992–1999)

After a two-year imprisonment, Chávez was pardoned by President Rafael Caldera in 1994. Upon his release, Chávez reconstituted the MBR-200 as the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR—Movimiento Quinta República, with the V representing the Roman numeral five). Later, in 1998, Chávez began to campaign for the presidency. In working to earn the trust of voters, Chávez drafted an agenda that drew heavily on his ideology of Bolivarianism. Chávez and his followers described their aim as "laying the foundations of a new republic" to replace the existing one, which they cast as "party-dominated"; the current constitution, they argued, was no more than the 'legal-political embodiment of puntofijismo,' the country's traditional two-party patronage system.[32]

Chávez used his flamboyant public speaking style, which was notable for its abundance of colloquialisms and ribald manner—on the campaign trail to win the trust and favour of a primarily poor and working class following. By May 1998, Chávez's support had risen to 30% in polls, and by August he was registering 39%. Chávez went on to win the 1998 presidential election on December 6, 1998 with 56% of the votes.[13][33]

Political philosophy

Chávez's Bolivarianism is based on ideas drawn from Simón Bolívar, Simón Rodríguez and Ezequiel Zamora,[34] influenced by the writings of Marxist historian Federico Brito Figueroa. Chávez was well acquainted with the various traditions of Latin American socialism espoused by Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and Salvador Allende and from a young age by the Cuban revolutionary doctrine of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Other indirect influences on Chávez's political philosophy are the writings of Noam Chomsky and the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible (Chávez describes Jesus as the world's first socialist). Although Chávez himself refers to his ideology as Bolivarianismo ("Bolivarianism"), Chávez's supporters and opponents in Venezuela refer to themselves as being either for or against "chavismo". Thus, Chávez supporters refer to themselves not as "Bolivarians" or "Bolivarianists", but rather as "chavistas".

Later in his life, Chávez would acknowledge the role that democratic socialism (a form of socialism that emphasizes grassroots democratic participation) plays in Bolivarianism.[35] Because his Bolivarianism relies on popular support, Chávez has organized the "Bolivarian Circles", which he cites as examples of grassroots and participatory democracy. The circles are forums for a few hundred local residents who decide how to spend the government allowance for social development. They usually decide for neighborhood beautification, mass mobilization, lending support to small businesses, and providing basic social services.

Presidency (1999–present)

File:HugoChavez1823.jpeg
Chávez holds a miniature copy of the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution at the 2005 World Social Forum held in Brazil.

Following Chávez's inauguration in February 1999, a referendum for a new constitution was soon passed, and a constitutional assembly formed. The resulting 1999 Venezuelan Constitution was approved by another referendum on 15 December 1999. The new constitution included an increase in the presidential term from five to six years, a new presidential two-term limit, a new provision for presidential recall elections, renaming of the country to República Bolivariana de Venezuela, expanded presidential powers, conversion of the bicameral National Assembly into a unicameral legislature, merit-based appointments of judges, and creation of the Public Defender, an office authorized to regulate the activities of the presidency and the National Assembly.[36] Elections for all elected government positions followed in 2000 under the new constitution, including the Venezuelan presidential election, 2000.

Chávez survived the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt which briefly removed him from power. A few months after the coup, on December 2, 2002, the Chávez presidency faced a two-month strike organized by management at the national oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S. A. (PDVSA) for the purpose of forcing Chávez out of office by creating an economic crisis and cutting the government off from all-important oil revenue. A further attempt to remove Chávez from office, the Venezuelan recall referendum, 2004, also failed.

From 2003 onwards the Chávez government has pursued a series of Bolivarian Missions aimed at providing public services to the previously underserved poor by bypassing existing public institutions.

Chávez again won the OAS and Carter Center certification of the national election on December 3, 2006 with 63% of the vote,[37] beating his closest challenger Manuel Rosales who conceded his loss on December 4, 2006.[38] After his victory, Chávez promised a more radical turn towards socialism.[39]

On August 15, 2007, Chávez proposed a broad package of measures as part of a constitutional reform. Among other measures, he called for an end to presidential term limits and proposed limiting central bank autonomy, strengthening state expropriation powers and providing for public control over international reserves as part of an overhaul of Venezuela's constitution. In accordance with the 1999 constitution, Chávez proposed the changes to the constitution, which were then approved by the National Assembly. The final test was a December 2, 2007 referendum.[40] The referendum was defeated, with 51% of the voters rejecting the amendments proposed by Chávez.[41]

On February 15, 2009, Chávez won a referendum to eliminate term limits.[42]

Foreign policy

Chávez and former Argentina President Néstor Kirchner discuss energy and trade integration projects for South America. They met on November 21, 2005 in Venezuela.

Chávez has refocused Venezuelan foreign policy on Latin American economic and social integration by enacting bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements, including his so-called "oil diplomacy".[43][44] Chávez stated that Venezuela has "a strong oil card to play on the geopolitical stage..." He said, "It is a card that we are going to play with toughness against the toughest country in the world, the United States."[45] Chávez has focused on a variety of multinational institutions to promote his vision of Latin American integration, including Petrocaribe, Petrosur, and TeleSUR. Bilateral trade relationships with other Latin American countries have also played a major role in his policy, with Chávez increasing arms purchases from Brazil, forming oil-for-expertise trade arrangements with Cuba, and creating unique barter arrangements that exchange Venezuelan petroleum for cash-strapped Argentina's meat and dairy products. Additionally, Chávez worked closely with other Latin American leaders following the 1997 Summit of the Americas in many areas—especially energy integration—and championed the OAS decision to adopt the Anti-Corruption Convention. Chávez also participates in the United Nations Friends groups for Haiti, and is pursuing efforts to join and engage the Mercosur trade bloc to expand the hemisphere's trade integration prospects. [46]

Economic policy

"Every factory must be a school to educate, like Che Guevara said, to produce not only briquettes, steel, and aluminum, but also, above all, the new man and woman, the new society, the socialist society."

— Hugo Chávez, at a May 2009 socialist transformation workshop [47]

Since 2005, Chávez is an outspoken proponent of what he calls a socialism of the 21st century as a means to help the poor. Since 2003, the Venezuelan government has set price controls on around 400 basic foods to counter inflation, which has led to "sporadic food shortages".[48] Food processing companies said that regulated prices had not kept pace with inflation, so that they were producing regulated food at a loss. Chávez has also nationalized a number of major companies, including in the telephone, electric, steel, and cement industries, and encouraged cooperatives.

Venezuela is a major producer of oil products, which remains the keystone of the Venezuelan economy. Chávez has gained a reputation as a price hawk in OPEC, pushing for stringent enforcement of production quotas and higher target oil prices. At a June 2006 meeting, Venezuela was the only OPEC country calling for lowered production to drive oil prices higher.

Chávez and the media

Even before the April 2002 coup, many owners, managers, and commentators working for the five major private mainstream television networks and largest mainstream newspapers had stated their opposition to Chávez's policies.[49] These media outlets have accused the Chávez administration of intimidating their journalists using specially dispatched gangs.[49] Chávez in turn alleges that the owners of these networks have primary allegiance not to Venezuela but to the United States, and that they seek the advancement of neoliberalism via corporate propaganda.

According to Greg Grandin, professor of Latin American history at New York University, "[The Venezuelan] media is chronically obsessed with Chávez, and critical in a way that would be completely alien for most US observers." After the media-backed 2002 coup attempt, Venezuela passed 'social responsibility' legislation regulating the media but has largely declined to enforce it.[50]

Throughout his presidency, Chávez has hosted the live talk show known as Aló Presidente ("Hello, President!").[51] The show broadcasts in varying formats on state owned Venezolana de Televisión (VTV—Venezuelan State Television) each Sunday at 11:00 AM. The show features Chávez addressing topics of the day, taking phone calls and live questions from both the studio and broadcast audience, and touring locations where government social welfare programs are active. Additionally, on July 25, 2005, Chávez inaugurated TeleSUR, a proposed Pan-American homologue of Al Jazeera that seeks to challenge the present domination of Latin American television news by Univision and the United States-based CNN en Español. Chávez's media policies have contributed to elevated tensions between the United States and Venezuela.[52]

In 2006, President Chávez announced that the terrestrial broadcast license for RCTV—Venezuela's second largest TV channel—would not be renewed.[53] The channel's terrestrial broadcasts ended on May 28, 2007 and were replaced with a state network.[54] RCTV is accused of supporting the coup against Chávez in April 2002, and the oil strike in 2002–2003. Also, it has been accused by the government of violating the Law on the Social Responsibility of Radio and Television.[55] The director of the station, Marcel Granier, denies taking part in the coup.[56] According to journalist Eva Golinger, "In the days before the April 11, 2000 coup, Venevisión, RCTV, Globovisión and Televen replaced regular programming with anti-Chávez speeches and propaganda calling for viewers to take to the streets."[57] One of the main justifications for the coup was news footage aired by the private stations on April 11 showing Chávez supporters on the Puente Llaguno bridge shooting at an unseen target earlier that day, with a voiceover saying that they were shooting at a peaceful opposition march. It was later proved that the Chávez supporters on the bridge had not been shooting at a march, they were exchanging fire with Metropolitan Police positioned behind cars and buildings; the opposition march had not passed near the bridge and was not fired at from it. The airing of this report was followed, later on the 11th, by an interview with a group of dissident generals who said that because of the deaths caused by the government, they would no longer recognise Chávez as president. CNN news correspondent Otto Neustadl said that he was told on the 10th, before the events took place, that "tomorrow, on the 11th there will be a video of Chávez, there will be deaths and then 20 military officials of high rank will appear and pronounce themselves against the government of Chávez and will request his resignation." Eva Golinger concludes from this and other evidence that "The media involvement in the coup had clearly been premeditated."[58]

RCTV is still broadcasting via cable and satellite and is widely viewable in Venezuela.[59] The failure to renew its terrestrial broadcast license has been condemned by a multitude of international organizations.[56][60][61][62] However, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) questioned whether, in the event a television station openly supported and collaborated with coup leaders, the station in question would not be subject to even more serious consequences in the United States or any other Western nation.[63] In a poll conducted by Datanalisis, almost 70 percent of Venezuelans polled opposed the shut-down, but most cited the loss of their favorite soap operas rather than concerns about limits on freedom of expression.[54]

Awards

During his term, Chávez has been awarded the following honorary degrees:[64]

In a list compiled by the magazine New Statesman in 2006, he was voted eleventh in the list of "Heroes of our time".[65]

References

  1. ^ Furshong, Gabriel (4 September 2005). "What is Bolivarian Socialism? And When?". Venezuelanalisys. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  2. ^ Ellner, Steve. "The 'Radical' Thesis on Globalisation and the Case of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez" Latin American Perspectives, Vol. 29, No. 6, Globalization and Globalism in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Nov., 2002), pp. 88–93. Stable URL.
  3. ^ "Sign of hope in US-Venezuela ties". BBC News. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  4. ^ "Ofensiva diplomática de Correa". Al Día. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2006-12-28.Template:Es icon
  5. ^ "Chávez resumes cooperation agenda in South America". El Universal. 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2006-12-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Padgett, Tim (2005-04-10). "Hugo Chavez: The Radical with Deep Pockets". Time. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  7. ^ Padgett, Tim (2006-05-08). "Hugo Chavez: Leading the Left-Wing Charge". Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  8. ^ Beaumont, Peter (2006-05-07). "The new kid in the barrio". The Observer. Retrieved 2008-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ a b c d Government of Venezuela, Gobierno En Línea (2005). "Presidente Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías", Gobierno En Línea. Accessed June 15, 2006. Template:Es icon
  10. ^ Hugo Chávez Venezuela's Redeemer Burt, Jo-Marie & Rosen, Fred: May 2000
  11. ^ Martin, Jorge (2007-01-12). ""What is the problem? I am also a Trotskyist!" - Chavez is sworn in as president of Venezuela". Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  12. ^ Gott, Richard. (The Guardian, August 25, 2005). "Two fingers to America". Retrieved October 18, 2005.
  13. ^ a b c Guillermoprieto, Alma (2005). "Don't Cry for Me, Venezuela". New York Review of Books. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Byrne, Jennifer. (Foreign Correspondent, June 3, 2003). "Venezuela - Bolivarian Revolution". Retrieved November 11, 2005.
  15. ^ "Actriz venezolana Ruddy Rodríguez niega romance con Hugo Chávez". IBL News. 2006-06-30. Retrieved 2007-02-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)Template:Es icon
  16. ^ Palast, Greg. (BBC Newsnight, May 2, 2002). "Venezuela President Hugo Chavez: Interview". Retrieved November 9, 2005.
  17. ^ Da Corte, María Lilibeth (2005-08-08). "Chávez "cortó" convenios con la DEA". El Universal. Retrieved 2007-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)Template:Es icon
  18. ^ "Hugo Chávez, el carismático político que domina Venezuela". Starmedia. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2007-01-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)Template:Es icon
  19. ^ Alford, Deann. (Christianity Today, October 14, 2005). "Venezuela to Expel New Tribes Mission". Retrieved November 9, 2005.
  20. ^ Otaola, Javier (2006-02-12). "Chávez y sus "demonios"". La Jornada. Retrieved 2006-12-27.Template:Es icon
  21. ^ a b Chávez, Hugo. [Untitled Speech]. Latino Pastoral Action Center. Bronx, New York City. September 17, 2005. Downloadable Audio. Retrieved November 5, 2005.
  22. ^ Obiko Pearson, Natalie. Associated Press (August 10, 2006). Chavez Says Castro Fighting for Life. The Washington Post.
  23. ^ Chavez demands Pope apologize for Indian comments | International | Reuters
  24. ^ Schuyler, George W. (2001), "Health and Neoliberalism: Venezuela and Cuba", The Policy Studies Organization.
  25. ^ Inter-American Court of Human Rights Del Caracazo Case Judgment of November 11, 1999 "according to official figures, the events of February and March 1989 left a balance of 276 dead, numerous injured, several disappeared and heavy material losses. However, this list was invalidated by the subsequent appearance of mass graves"
  26. ^ Gott, Richard (2005). Hugo Chávez and the bolivarian revolution. Verso. p. 64. ISBN 1844675335.
  27. ^ Gott (2005), p.63.
  28. ^ Gott (2005), p.69.
  29. ^ Gott (2005), p. 67. Chávez spoke thus: "Comrades: unfortunately, for the moment, the objectives that we had set for ourselves have not been achieved in the capital. That's to say that those of us here in Caracas have not been able to seize power. Where you are, you have performed well, but now is the time for a rethink; new possibilities will arise again, and the country will be able to move definitively towards a better future."
  30. ^ Gott (2005), p.67.
  31. ^ O'Keefe, Derrick. (Z Communications, March 9, 2005). "Building a Democratic, Humanist Socialism: The Political Challenge of the 21st Century". Retrieved November 11, 2005.
  32. ^ Chavez's constitutional reform; A Hard Look at the Rationale & Proposals, Latin America Weekly Report, January 12, 1999, Venezuela; Politics; WR-99-02; Pg. 18
  33. ^ Trinkunas, Harold (1999). "Observation of the 1998 Venezuelan Elections: A Report of the Council of Freely Elected Heads of Government" (PDF). Carter Center. pp. p. 49. Retrieved 2006-12-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  34. ^ Cameron, Maxwell (2001). "Venezuela's Hugo Chavez: Savior or Threat to Democracy?". Latin American Research Review. 36 (3): 263.
  35. ^ Sojo, Cleto A. (Venezuela Analysis, January 31, 2005). "Venezuela’s Chávez Closes World Social Forum with Call to Transcend Capitalism". Retrieved October 20, 2005.
  36. ^ "Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela". Embassy of Venezuela in the US. 2000. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  37. ^ "Chavez officially re-elected with 63 pct of vote". Reuters. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  38. ^ "Chavez wins Venezuelan election". Gulf News. 2006-12-04. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  39. ^ Ireland On-Line. Chavez promises more radical turn toward socialism. (December 4, 2006). Accessed December 4, 2006.
  40. ^ Ellsworth, Brian (2007-08-16). "Venezuela's Chavez calls for end to term limits". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-08-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  41. ^ Opposition Cheers Defeat of Chávez Plan in Venezuela, New York Times.
  42. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/15/AR2009021500136.html
  43. ^ The Economist. (The Economist, July 28, 2005). "Using oil to spread revolution". Retrieved June 11, 2005.
  44. ^ Guyana Diary. (Monthly Newsletter of the Guyana Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela, February 2004). "Guyana to Try for Better Oil Rates Under Caracas Accord". Retrieved June 14, 2006." Under the Caracas Energy Accord, countries can purchase oil supplies on concessional terms. It complements the terms of the San Jose Agreement, through which Venezuela offers special financial conditions to signatory oil-buying countries."
  45. ^ Blum, Justin (Washington Post, November 22, 2005). "Chavez Pushes Petro-Diplomacy". Retrieved November 29, 2005.
  46. ^ "Hugo Chavez in Moscow Thinks First, Then Speaks". Pravda.ru. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  47. ^ Venezuela Nationalizes Gas Plant and Steel Companies, Pledges Worker Control, by James Suggett, Venezuelanalysis, May 22 2009
  48. ^ Reuters, 5 March 2009, Food, farms the new target for Venezuela's Chavez
  49. ^ a b Dinges, John. Columbia Journalism Review (July 2005). "Soul Search". Retrieved June 13, 2006.
  50. ^ Democracy Now! Thursday, September 21, 2006. [1] Retrieved October 4, 2006.
  51. ^ Lakshmanan, Indira. The Boston Globe (27 July 2005). "Channeling His Energies: Venezuelans riveted by president's TV show". Retrieved October 15, 2005.
  52. ^ Bruce, Ian. (BBC, June 28, 2005). "Venezuela sets up 'CNN rival'". Retrieved June 13, 2006.
  53. ^ BBC NEWS. Chavez to shut down opposition TV. (December 29, 2006).
  54. ^ a b "Venezuela replaces opposition TV with state network".
  55. ^ Declaraciones del Ministerio de Comunicación e Información
  56. ^ a b Forero, Juan. (The Washington Post, January 18, 2007). "Pulling the Plug on Anti-Chavez TV". Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  57. ^ "The Media War Against the People: A Case Study of Media Concentration and Power in Venezuela", in Olivia Burlingame Goumbri, The Venezuela Reader, Washington D.C., U.S.A., 2005, p 94. She cited Duncan Campbell, "It's a Coup: your sets will adjust accordingly," The Guardian, April 29, 2002.
  58. ^ Golinger, "The Media War . . . " (op. cit.), p 96. Her description of the shooting video is on pp 95, 6. On p 96 she notes that the author of the video, Luis Alfonso Fernández of Venevisión, later admitted that he did not see the Chávez supporters firing at the opposition march; and Del Valle Canelón of Globovisión said that on video he saw the group of civilians firing, but against the Metropolitain Police. The Otto Neustadl quote is from Golinger, p 96. She cites Le Monde Diplomatique, August 2002, "How Hate Media Incited the Coup Against the President: Venezuela's Press Power".
  59. ^ Station was never closed as claimed Venezuela's RCTV Reappears on Cable and Satellite Venezuelanalysis.com Accessed August 12, 2007.
  60. ^ Joel Simon, Executive Director CPJ urges Chávez to allow RCTV to stay on the air Committee to Protect Journalists Accessed May 29, 2007.
  61. ^ Venezuela (2006). Freedom House. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  62. ^ IPI condemns shutdown of RCTV television station in Venezuela International Press Institute Accessed May 29, 2007.
  63. ^ "Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs".
  64. ^ "Gobierno en Línea: Nuestros Presidentes, Biografía del Presidente Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías". Government of Venezuela. 2005. Retrieved 2006-01-21. Template:Es icon
  65. ^ New Statesman

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