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Last Updated:
Friday, 24 November 2006, 16:34 GMT
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Timeline: Hugo Chavez
28 July, 1954
Hugo Chavez Frias is born in Sabaneta state of Barinas
1971
Enrols in the Academy of Military Sciences
1975
Graduates from the Academy of Military Sciences
1982
Chavez organises the Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Hugo Chavez creates a new political cell within the army with two other army officers. The MBR200 the 200 was a reference to the 200th anniversary of Simon Bolivar's birth is committed to overthrowing the political establishment which it regards as corrupt and unrepresentative. While it is a military movement it has alliances with leftwing groups.
27 February, 1989
Violence erupts in Caracas
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Hundreds of people mainly in the capital's poor neighbourhoods are killed in the Caracazo riots possibly the worst in the country's history. The army is ordered out onto the streets to quell the unrest sparked by discontent over a rise in the price of petrol. Lt Chavez is ill and not called on to suppress the rioters. People close to him say that this "missed opportunity" led him to intensify his preparations for a coup.
4 February, 1992
Chavez leads a failed coup against Carlos Andres Perez
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Under Col Chavez's command soldiers loyal to the MBR200 try to seize key installations including the Miraflores presidential palace. When it becomes apparent the coup attempt has failed Col Chavez surrenders and asks to be allowed to speak on TV before being sent to prison. His oneminute broadcast in which he says the coup has failed "for the moment" catapults him into the national spotlight.
1994
Chavez is released from Yare prison
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0President Hugo Chavez receives a presidential pardon and is freed. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0After his release he reforms the MBR200 and creates a political party the Fifth Republic Movement MVR.
6 December, 1998
Chavez is elected president with 56 of vote
2 February, 1999
Hugo Chavez is sworn in as president
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0On assuming the presidency Mr Chavez announces he will call a referendum to decide whether elections should be held for a constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution.
25 April, 1999
88 of voters say yes to a constitutional assembly
25 July, 1999
Elections for a constitutional assembly are held
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Supporters of President Chavez obtain most of the 131 seats in the assembly which will have the task of rewriting the 1961 constitution.
15 December, 1999
New constitution ratfied by 71 of voters
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The new Bolivarian Constitution is approved in a referendum by an overwhelming majority inaugurating the socalled Fifth Republic. The country's name is officially changed to become the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Major changes are also made to the structure of the government and its responsibilities.
30 July, 2000
Chavez is reelected under the new constitution
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0In the socalled megaelections for president deputies governors and mayors Hugo Chavez gets 59 of the vote. He is given a new sixyear mandate with the possibility of reelection for six new years. His supporters also gain control of the National Assembly.
10 August, 2000
Chavez visits Iraq ignoring US objections
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0President Chavez becomes the first foreign head of state to visit Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War in defiance of the US which voices strong opposition.
22 August, 2000
President Chavez is sworn in for a second time
November, 2000
Chavez given special powers
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The National Assembly approves the Enabling Law Ley Habilitante allowing the president to legislate by decree for one year on economic social and public administration matters.
November, 2001
Fortynine laws are passed by decree
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Before the Enabling Law expires Mr Chavez approves 49 laws by decree including ones relating to the oil industry and land reform. The move sparks protests from the opposition businesses and trade unions. It also prompt the resignation of cabinet minister Luis Miquilena who has an important following in the judiciary and the National Assembly. The resignation is seen as a serious blow to the Chavez government.
10 December, 2001
Business groups and unions call a national strike
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Venezuela's leading business association Fedecamaras leads a oneday general strike in protest against the new laws. Thousands of businesses as well as the country's largest labour union confederation the CTV take part.
February, 2002
Head of stateowned oil firm is sacked by Chavez
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0President Chavez fires retired General Guaicaipuro Lameda as head of Petroleos de Venezuela PDVSA replacing him with a former Communist militant. Officials and workers at PDVSA slow down production in protest. Meanwhile the bolivar plummets against the US dollar and the economy goes into recession.
9 April, 2002
Businesses and unions call indefinite strike
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Trade unions and Fedecamaras declare a general strike in support of PDVSA dissidents. Protesters demand the resignation of President Chavez.
11 April, 2002
AntiChavez protest turns violent
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Some 150000 people rally in support of the strike and oil protest. National Guard and proChavez gunmen clash with protesters more than 10 people are killed and 110 injured. Highranking members of the military rebel and demand the president's resignation.
12 April, 2002
Opposition and military mount coup
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The head of the armed forces announces that the president has resigned a claim that is later denied by Mr Chavez. President Chavez is taken into military custody. Pedro Carmona one of the strike organisers is named head of the transitional government.
14 April, 2002
Chavez returns to power
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Interim leader Mr Carmona resigns in the face of massive street protests demanding the the president's return and the loss of military support. In the days that follow the US denies having backed the failed coup as many people allege but acknowledges it did meet members of the opposition.
2 December, 2002
Opposition strike cripples the oil industry
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0A nineweek stoppage organised by business leaders and the CTV and joined by the captains who command the oil tankers and PDVSA managers brings oil exports to a halt and leads to shortages in the country. Venezuela is forced to import oil. The strike is very damaging to the economy and according to many analysts backfires as the strike organisers are blamed for the shortages.
August, 2003
Opposition presents signatures calling for recall referendum
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The opposition produces petitions said to contain three million names backing a referendum on a recall vote. But they are ruled inadmissable by the electoral authorities who argue that most of them were gathered earlier in the year before Mr Chavez reached the midterm point established by the constitution for a recall vote.
December, 2003
New list of signatures for recall is handed in
2 March, 2004
Referendum ruling sparks protests
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The electoral council says only 1.9 million of the 3.4 million signatures the opposition claims to have collected are valid. Protests erupt around the country leaving at least eight people dead over a number of days.
21 April, 2004
Compromise agreed on disputed signatures
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0The electoral authorities announce that the disputed signatures will be checked over a fiveday period beginning on 27 May then recounted over three days beginning on 1 June.
15 August, 2004
Chavez wins referendum on his rule
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0President Chavez receives the backing of about 58 of the electorate. His opponents reject the outcome and allege fraud but international observers say it has been a fair election.
December, 2004
Castro and Chavez propose regional alternative
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0On a visit to Havana President Chavez and his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro propose the creation of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas Alba a regional pact to accelerate integration and an alternative to the USbacked Free Trade Agreement for the Americas FTAA. Venezuela also increases its supply of oil to Cuba in return for more Cuban doctors health workers and teachers.
10 January, 2005
Venezuela implements land reform
February, 2005
US is trying to kill me Chavez says
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0President Chavez accuses Washington of planning to kill him. "If I am assassinated there is only one person responsible the president of the United States" Mr Chavez says during his weekly radio and TV show Hello President. It is one of many rows between Caracas and Washington.
4 December, 2005
Chavez allies win legislative poll boycotted by opposition
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Parties allied to President Chavez win all 167 seats in the National Assembly. None of the five main opposition parties take part in the process accusing the electoral body of bias. Only about 25 of registered voters cast a ballot. LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0
19 February, 2006
Chavez says he could seek further terms
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Mr Chavez says he is thinking of calling a referendum to allow him to run for another term in the 2012 elections.
1 August, 2006
Campaigning starts ahead of presidential poll
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Campaigning officially begins ahead of the 3 December elections. It is the first time in Venezuela's history that a president is seeking a third consecutive term.
19 September, 2006
Bush is the devil Chavez tells the UN
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Hugo Chavez calls US President George W Bush "the devil" in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Many analysts believe this address later cost Venezuela a nonpermanent seat at the UN Security Council as it failed to get the necessary votes.
3 December, 2006
Chavez wins another sixyear term
LETTERSPACING0 KERNING0Hugo Chavez claims his election win is a great victory for the Bolivarian revolution. "It's another defeat for the devil who tries to dominate the world" Mr Chavez told cheering supporters mocking US President George W Bush and sending out a "brotherly" salute to Cuba's President Fidel Castro.
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VENEZUELA UNDER CHAVEZ
KEY STORIES
Chavez accused of gagging media
Venezuelan election law approved
Chavez cuts budget over oil price
Chavez wins chance of fresh term
FEATURES AND ANALYSIS
Tough times ahead
Hugo Chavez wins the right to stand for re-election but faces bumpy economic ride
Referendum: Venezuelan views
Local hero
A tale of two Venezuelas
BACKGROUND
Chavez profile
Venezuela guide: Key facts
Timeline: From Columbus on
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