A brief background for those not familiar with our former leader.
In 1992, Chávez and a group of military officers led an attempt to overthrow the government of President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Unfortunately for Chávez, the rebellion quickly collapsed. Chavez surrendered on the condition he be allowed to address his coconspirators on national television. He told his fellow “comrades” that their goal of taking power could not be accomplished, and he asked them to put down their arms to avoid further bloodshed. Many Venezuelans at that time were frustrated with their elected leaders and they were inspired by Chávez speech. In December 1998 he won the presidential election with 56 percent of the vote.
Oil prices at the time were at US$100 a barrel so he launched many welfare programmes and his approval reached 80%. Riding this wave of popularity, Chávez oversaw the drafting of a new constitution that gave him unprecedented control over the three branches of government. He continued to rewrite the constitution to perpetuate himself in power and remained in office until his death fourteen years later.
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