Date: 3 December 2006
What is elected: President
Term: 6 years
President-elect: Hugo Chavez

Situation: President Chavez, who has survived a coup, protests, strikes and a referendum on his rule, is the subject of both adulation and loathing among his divided electorate. After his clear victory on 3 December, he told crowds his left-wing "Bolivarian revolution" had triumphed.

Mr Chavez has sought to widen Venezuela's influence in Latin America to counter that of Washington. High oil prices have strengthened Mr Chavez's position as they have helped Venezuela - the world's fifth oil exporter - to grow robustly. He enjoys close ties with Cuba and Iran, which attract US disapproval.