Hugo Chavez

President of Venezuela

Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias was born on July 28, 1954 is the 53rd and current President of Venezuela. He is the leader of the "Bolivarian Revolution," promoting a vision of democratic socialism, Latin American integration, and anti-imperialism. He is a critic of neoliberal globalization and United States foreign policy especially as he suspects that the US government wish to overthrow him and his government.

A military officer, Chavez founded the leftist Fifth Republic Movement after orchestrating a failed 1992 coup against former president Carlos Andres Perez.

Chavez was elected President in 1998 on the back of a campaign pledging to aid Venezuela's poor majority, he was re-elected in 2000.

Domestically, Chavez has launched massive Bolivarian Missions, whose goals are to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other social ills. Abroad, Chavez has acted against the Washington Consensus by supporting alternative models of economic development, and has advocated cooperation among the world's poor nations, especially those in Latin America.

Interestingly, Chavez showing his arguements are not with the American people has supplied cheap heating oil to the poor of New York and Boston

Chavez's reforms have evoked exceptional controversy in Venezuela and abroad, receiving both criticism and praise. Venezuelans are split between those who say he has empowered the poor and stimulated economic growth, and those who say he is autocratic and has mismanaged the economy. Some foreign governments view Chavez as a threat to global oil prices and regional stability, while others welcome his bilateral trade and reciprocal aid agreements.

Hugo is now in talks with London Mayor Red Ken Livingstone to supply cheap oil to help run London transport.

On the Buses with Hugo!

Hugo is now in talks with London Mayor "Red" Ken Livingstone to supply cheap oil to help run London transport.

Following his visit to London in May 2006 Chavez is in the process of brokering a deal with London whereby the expertise of the pen pushers of London's City bureaucrats are repaid well by the oil gushers from Latin America.

Chavez is keen to improve services and governance in Caracas and wants to tap London's expertise in policing, tourism, transport, housing policy and waste disposal.

In return London, will be repaid in cheap oil. The details of exactly how the cheap oil will benefit those most at need is yet to be ironed out, but may take the form of free bus passess for those on low incomes or state benefits or may simply take the form of more services being provided to poorer areas of the UK capital.

It's unlikey that commuters will get tokens for a Hugo Chavez tumbler set.

Ken, happy that London buses are Red and driven on the Left

Chavistas Ideology

From a young age Chavez was drawn to the ideology of the Cuban revolutionary doctrine of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Other key influences on Chavez's political philosophy include Ezequiel Zamora and Simon Rodriguez. The teachings of Jesus in the Bible inspired Chavez to desclare Jesus as the world's first socialist. Although Chavez himself refers to his ideology as Bolivarianismo ("Bolivarianism"), Chavez's supporters and opponents in Venezuela refer to themselves as being either for or against "chavismo." Thus, Chavez supporters refer to themselves not as "Bolivarians" or "Bolivarianists," but rather as "chavistas."

Chavez on "Mr Danger" G W Bush

Personal life

Chavez pictured with his three daughters, Rosa Virginia, Maria Gabriela and Rosa Ines. Hugo Chavez has been married twice. His first wife was Nancy Colmenares, from Chavez's hometown of Sabaneta. Chavez and Colmenares were married for eighteen years, during which time they had three children: Rosa Virginia, Maria Gabriela, and Hugo Rafael. They separated soon after Chavez's 1992 coup attempt. Chavez is separated from his second wife, journalist Marisabel Rodriguez de Chavez. Chavez has a fourth daughter from the marriage; Rosa Ines. Chavez also has one granddaughter, Gabriela.

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