The 61st and current President of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is seeking his fourth term, running against Henrique Capriles Radonski in the October 7 general election. Chávez was first elected president in 1998 and upon winning, consolidated the top socialist-leaning political parties under the Fifth Republic Movement party. In 2007, after winning a third term, Chávez consolidated all leftist parties under the banner of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
As the youngest president in Venezuelan history, Chávez has followed and implemented his own political ideology of “Bolivarianism” and “21st Century Socialism.” Top on his list of accomplishments is the creation a new constitution in 1999, which officially changed the country’s name to the “Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” and implemented a number of reforms that bolstered power of the federal government. For example, the new constitution increased the presidential term from five to six years, converted the bicameral legislature into one unicameral body – the National Assembly – and gave the military a stronger role in governing by mandating that they ensure public order and aid national development. Upon ratification, elections were legally required, and Chávez was re-elected to a new, now six-year term in 2000.
In addition to the constitution, Chávez focused on the implementation of other socialist reforms, including a series of popular “Bolivarian Missions” aimed at providing public services to improve the economic, cultural and social conditions of the impoverished. Other hallmarks of Chávez’s “Bolivarian Revolution” include controversial government seizures and the subsequent nationalization of a number of leading corporations, starting with the assets of ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil, both of which were expropriated in 2007. These oil companies are now consolidated under the state-owned enterprise Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). From there, the expropriations have continued, as Chávez has targeted countless industries, foreign and domestic companies, and even a large portion of the country’s lands.
A career military officer, Chávez served in the Venezuelan army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In the early 1980s, he founded the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200), a secret military order seeking to overthrow the existing political system, which he viewed as corrupt and inequitable. In 1992 Chávez led, along with fellow officers, an effort by MBR-200 to forcibly oust President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Although the coup was quickly suppressed and Chávez surrendered, he was allowed to go on television to explain his actions, giving him a now famous chance to connect with the Venezuelan audience for the first time. He was later pardoned by President Rafael Caldera in 1994. Chávez entered politics soon after, and decided to run for president in 1998. A controversial leader himself, Chávez was ousted from power for two days beginning on April 11, 2002. While disputes still remain over the title of this event – coup or revolution – the wealthy business-leader Pedro Carmona declared himself president of an interim government. He abolished the 1999 constitution and appointed a small governing committee to run the country, causing many to fear the implementation of totalitarian measures. Carmona’s moves garnered little support, which consequently led to Carmona’s resignation and Chávez’s return to power.
Throughout his career, Chávez has developed strong alliances with Cuba, Bolivia, Russia, Iran and China, while maintaining a strained relationship with the United States. Chávez is a frequent critic of U.S. foreign policy, and a particular opponent of former President George W. Bush. Elsewhere internationally, he has worked to refocus Latin American economic and social integration by founding organizations such as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), and by enacting bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements, many of which embody his so-called philosophy of “oil diplomacy.” He has also been one of the strongest advocates for unions among Latin American nations that exclude Canada and the U.S., such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
A number of NGOs and other international organizations have displayed particular concern over Chávez’s policies regarding freedom of expression, human rights abuses, freedom of the press, and the country’s separation of powers. Venezuela has also struggled with a decade-long surge in homicides which continues to worsen, with over 90 percent of crimes committed left unresolved.
On June 2011, Chávez announced that he was suffering from cancer, although his administration has released few details as to its type and severity. In October 2011, Chávez pronounced himself “cured” of the disease, only to announce its recurrence in February 2012, when a second cancerous lesion was removed from his pelvic region. Chávez has received most of his treatment (including surgeries) in Cuba, and the latest relapse has made it difficult for him to actively campaign on the ground. He has utilized social media tools, such as Twitter, to engage voters, but it has not had the same impact as his trademark campaign style; in the streets. Although the severity of the cancer remains unknown, Chávez has decided to remain a candidate, a sentiment that has been echoed by many members of his party.
Heading into the October election, Chávez has established a similar platform to years past, including:
- Combating inflation by limiting the prices charged for goods and services across broad sectors of the economy;
- Reinforcing his “Great Housing Mission” to address the critical housing shortage in the country;
- Strengthening Venezuela’s education system and its social welfare programs, known as “Misiones”;
- Redistributing the country’s oil revenues equally throughout its citizenry;
- Continuing the development of his party, PSUV, as a populist platform of power, maintaining strong ties between it and the masses.
Click here to learn more about Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías via his website.