On March 5, 2013, the death of the president of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, was announced. He was considered a charismatic and controversial leader who polarized the country around his image and administration.
Ten years after his death, followers and leaders of the Venezuelan Socialist Party of America remembered Chavez with various actions in public streets, life and labor forums, and a military act scheduled for Sunday at the Museum of the Bolivarian Revolution. Montaña Barracks, located in western Caracas, where his remains rest.
For many, his irreverence and eloquence have always allowed him to stand out, for better or for worse, but never to go under the table. These are the 10 most important moments in the life of one of the most influential politicians in the history of the republic of Venezuela.
February 4, 1992: “For Now”
He appears for the first time on television after he tried to overthrow the president Carlos Andrés Pérez. Once detained, he spoke to the soldiers who had accompanied him in the enterprise and said: “Now the objectives that we proposed to us have not been achieved in the capital city, that is, we have not been able to rule here in Caracas. power.” It was an important moment in his political career. Almost seven years later, on December 6, 1998, Chávez won the presidential election.
February 2, 1999: The seizure of power
Venezuela’s president-designate Hugo Chávez was sworn in by Venezuelan Congress President Luis Alfonso Dávila on February 2 during the inauguration ceremony in Caracas. In the middle of the issue is the president Rafael Caldera. Credit: RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP via Getty Images Credit: RODRIGO ARANGUA/AFP via Getty Images
Chávez raised his right hand and was sworn in as president of Venezuela’s 1961 Constitution, which he called “dying,” and vowed to promote the Magna Carta’s “adjustment to new times.” On the same day, in the first act of government, the new president decided to call a consultative referendum. That consultation was held on April 25 of the same year and asked Venezuelans if they wanted to convene a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution. This new social contract was approved in a referendum on December 15, 1999. After 10 years on January 2007, when he was sworn in for the period 2007-2013, he said that he would give his “days and nights and days”. all his life in the establishment of Venezuelan socialism.”
3. April 2002: sounds, releases and events
Hugo Chávez at the “Alo Presidente” program in Puerto La Cruz, west of Caracas, on October 10, 2004. Credit: HO/AFP via Getty Images
After a strike initiated by the senior management of Petroleos de Venezuela, the country’s main company, Chavez decided to fire seven of his leaders in a memorable episode of his program. Aló, President, on April 7, 2002. They were announced. noting Four days later, after a massive demonstration reached the Miraflores neighborhood of the presidential palace, Chavez was overthrown within 48 hours. On the 14th of April he returned to the Palace of Miraflores in the early hours of the morning.
4. September 2006: “Yesterday the devil was here”
Chavez addresses the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2006 in New York City. Credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images
Once, after the president of the United States, George W. Bush, spoke at the annual meeting of the General Nations, Hugo Chávez exercised his right to speak. Before he began his speech he said, “Yesterday the devil was here.” He quickly crossed behind him, and added: In the same place it still reeks of sulphur. He then said that he called the president of the United States “the devil”.
5. November 2007: “Why are you closed?”
A video was captured showing the King of Spain, Juan Carlos de Borbón, shouting at the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, “Why don’t you shut down?”, after Chávez interrupted a speech by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the President of the Government of Venezuela. Hispali, at Espacio Riesco in Santiago, on November 10. 2007. Credit: AFP via Getty Images
During the Ibero-American 17th summit held in Chile, King Juan Carlos told President Chávez that he remembered “why don’t you close?”, which had a bilateral impact on relations between Madrid and Caracas, but also on the population, with phrases that were also printed on the channels. The event was in response to the criticism of Chávez by the former president of the Spanish Government, José María Aznar. In the middle, Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who held the post at the time, asked him to respect his predecessor.
6. December 2007: first defeat in the elections
In his third inauguration, he declared a transition to Socialism, Chavez promoted a broad reform of the Constitution, which, among other things, proposed the continuous re-election of the President of the Republic. But on December 3, 2007, no option prevailed by a minimal Yes margin. The next day, when he was commenting on the results, the president made a sacrilege to report the victory of those who were against the plan. In February 2009, however, the ruling party managed to prevail in a referendum to vote for an amendment to the Magna Carta that proposed continuous election for all elected positions.
September 7, 2008. Expulsion of US Ambassador Patrick Duddy
Hugo Chavez speaks to supporters in Caracas on September 11, 2008. Chavez said US Ambassador Patrick Duddy is no longer welcome. Bolivia had expelled the US ambassador from La Paz the day before. Credit: PEDRO REY/AFP via Getty Images
At a meeting held on the main street of Caracas, President Chávez expelled the US ambassador amid profane and vulgar expressions. It was one of the most famous clashes of the time in the relationship between the two countries. Since that time, Washington has not had an embassy in the Venezuelan city. There was also a bilateral relationship at the time with Colombia and especially at the time of President Alvaro Uribe. Even on February 23, 2010, at the lunch offered to the heads of state attending the Rio Summit in Cancun, Chávez had a great argument with his fellow Colombians. Uribe accused Chávez of imposing an embargo on Colombian products, a version that Chávez denied. According to the Colombian media, Uribe said that Chávez “is a man”, to which Chávez replied: “go to c…” At the time, Chávez confirmed that this was CNN’s version.
June 8, 2011: Chavez announces that he has cancer
Hugo Chávez is pictured at the presidential palace in Miraflores after completing his third round of chemotherapy at a military hospital in Caracas, September 2, 2011. Credit: LEO RAMIREZ/AFP via Getty Images
After a wave of rumors resulted from his absence from the public scene, Chávez gave a public interview from Havana to confirm that he had cancer in the pelvic region, which required first an intervention to prevent infection, then a second operation to remove the tumor.
The last act of the campaign was October 9, 2012
Hugo Chavez speaks during a closing campaign rally for his election in Caracas, Venezuela, October 4, 2012. The opposition candidate was Henrique Capriles. Credit: LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images
Hugo Chávez, dressed in black and raining heavily, took the stage he set up on Avenida Bolívar in Caracas, the place where Chavismo gathered, to give his speech for the election campaign. Although the candidate won victory against the opposition, Henrique Capriles, the state of his health did not allow him to attend the inauguration in January 2013.
December 10, 2012. Chávez names Maduro’s successor
In an event at the Miraflores Palace, Chávez designated then-President Nicolas Maduro as his political successor. At the beginning of his speech, the president announced that he had returned to Havana to undergo another operation. He then asked his students to vote for Nicolas Maduro, the candidate for the presidency of Venezuela, in the event that new elections are called. Maduro left the government and announced the death of the Venezuelan president on March 5, 2013 at 4:25 am.
