The career of Hugo Chávez

The historical moments in which Hugo Chavez, the late president of Venezuela participated, forged the way for the Chavez revolution and, in one way or another, has been imitated by some South American countries.

On February 4, 1992, Hugo Chavez, as a paratrooper lieutenant colonel he leads a failed coup against President Carlos Andres Perez. That’s why he goes to jail, and is released from prison after two years, when President Rafael Caldera dismisses all charges.

Hugo Chavez becomes president

On October 21, 1997, he founded the Partido Movimiento V (Quinta) Republica, which sponsored him to run for the office, with the support of several smaller parties of the left.

On December 6, 1996, Chavez becomes president after winning the elections. In his speech he promised to seek a “third way” between socialism and capitalism. A year later, Venezuela agreed to a Constitution that extended the presidential term from five to six years.

On July 30, 2000, the new Constitution commanded to “re-legitimize” all civil servants in national elections, Chavez, who had one and a half in office, is re-elected for a new term as president.

On April 11, 2002, protesters demanded his resignation marched to the Palacae and 19 people died in the demonstrations. An interim government revoked the constitution and dissident generals expelled Chavez. Three days later loyal officers rescued and restored Chavez to power.

On August 15, 2004, the Venezuelan people vote overwhelmingly in favour of the “No” in a referendum that asked whether Chavez should leave office. That same year he signed a deal with Fidel Castro and to create the regional bloc Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

On December 3, 2006, Chavez is re-elected again for a new presidential term of six years, with 63% of votes. A year later the Venezuelans reject Chavez’s constitutional amendments.

On February 15, 2009, Chavez won the referendum that allows competing for re-election indefinitely and promises to stay in power for at least another decade.

Hugo Chavez says he’s free of cancer

On September 27, 2010, Chavez allies lost the two-thirds majority in congressional elections, but the Chavez retains majority.

On December 17, 2010, the outgoing Congress grants Chavez power to enact laws by decree for 18 months.

On June 10, 2011, Chavez in Cuba is subjected to the first surgery for a pelvic abscess. Eight months later he performed a second operation to remove a tumour in the same area. Five months later he makes the announcement that is completely free of cancer.

On October 7, 2012, Chavez won the elections for another six-year term with 55% of votes. In November, he travelled to Cuba to “initiate a treatment involving hyperbaric oxygen sessions”.

On December 8, 2012, Chavez reports that the cancer returned and that was the last time he was seen in public, then travelled to Cuba, where the reports on his health were scarce.

Hugo Chavez informs that the cancer returned

On December 8, 2012, less than ten months of a first relapse indicates that Chavez should undergo another surgery and delegates all his functions to the Vice President Nicolas Maduro.

On 12 December 2012, Chavez travelled to Cuba early in the morning for a surgery, since then he was never seen nor heard. Maduro reports that the Venezuelan leader is recovering after surgery.

On January 10, 2013, Chave did not come to take the oath for another term of six years. Diosdado Cabello, leader of the Assembly, indicates that Chavez called to report that due to his recovery “it should extend beyond January 10 of this year.”

On February 18, 2013, Chavez returned to Venezuela in the morning and is confined to a military hospital in Caracas.