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Hugo Rafael Chávez was born in Sabaneta, Venezuela, in 1954. His basic studies were completed in the city of Barinas. Chávez was crazy about baseball, a very popular sport in Venezuela.
At the age of 17, Chávez entered his country's Military Academy and graduated in military sciences and arts. He even reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.
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Bolivarian Ideal
Chávez joined the Bolivarian political and idealist movement, which had a great influence on his life. His desire was to come to power to build the new socialism of the 21st century in Venezuela.
His first activity was the failed coup d'état on February 4, 1992, which attempted to overthrow President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Because of the defeat, he was locked up in prison for 2 years. Free, he abandoned militarism to practice political activity.
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He was the idealist of the 5th Republic Movement, which served as the basis for Venezuela's electoral victory and presidency in 1998. His campaign plan was to eradicate poverty and end corruption.
In 1999 he abolished Congress and called for a National Constituent Assembly. After the popular referendum, a new Constitution was approved that transformed Venezuela into the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
New Constitution
The new Constitution also increased the powers of the Executive, abolished the Senate and increased recognition of local culture.
In the new presidential elections in 2000, Chávez emerged victorious and was accused of using the machine to obtain votes. Its form of government at that time was through decrees, so it was able to approve measures without analysis by the National Assembly.
Hugo Chávez in power
Chávez's big dreams and projects were financed by the abundant money from the oil extracted in the country. To increase control over the sector, in 2002, the president appointed “Petróleos da Venezuela”, a state company responsible for controlling the natural resource, people he trusted.
Due to popular measures such as agrarian reform, decreased control of TV concessions by private groups and political disagreements, Venezuela would see large strike movements against Chávez's government.
In one of these demonstrations, on April 11, 2002, fifteen people ended up dead and more than 100 injured in clashes between strikers and federal troops.
Due to the bloody protest, Chávez announced his resignation and went to prison.
But soon after, his arms outside the prison organized a coup to return him to the Miraflores Palace.
There were many political battles until a referendum on August 15, 2004 showed that 58,25% supported Chávez until the end of his term.
In the third presidential election, in 2006, Chávez won his third term. The Chavista government's popularity began to suffer in 2010 due to the devaluation of the local currency, energy rationing plans and the cancellation of cable TV channels.
Even so, he went on to face and win his fourth presidential race in 2012.
However, deteriorated by cancer, Chávez was unable to take office and take the oath in 2013, as stipulated in the Constitution. At that time he was undergoing surgery and treatment for the disease in Cuba.
He died on March 5, 2013.
