PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Hugo Chávez served as president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013. During his presidency, he sold oil to Cuba and resisted efforts to stop narcotic trafficking in Columbia, and subsequently strained relations with the United States.
He was the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when it merged with several other parties to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which he led until 2012.
Following Chavismo, his own political ideology of Bolivarianism and Socialism of the 21st Century, he focused on implementing socialist reforms in the country as a part of a social project known as the Bolivarian Revolution. He implemented the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution, participatory democratic councils, the nationalization of several key industries, and increased government funding of health care and education and made significant reductions in poverty with oil revenues. The Bolivarian Missions have entailed the construction of thousands of free medical clinics for the poor, the institution of educational campaigns that have made more than one million adult Venezuelans literate, and the enactment of food and housing subsidies.
He was the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when it merged with several other parties to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), which he led until 2012.
Following Chavismo, his own political ideology of Bolivarianism and Socialism of the 21st Century, he focused on implementing socialist reforms in the country as a part of a social project known as the Bolivarian Revolution. He implemented the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution, participatory democratic councils, the nationalization of several key industries, and increased government funding of health care and education and made significant reductions in poverty with oil revenues. The Bolivarian Missions have entailed the construction of thousands of free medical clinics for the poor, the institution of educational campaigns that have made more than one million adult Venezuelans literate, and the enactment of food and housing subsidies.
Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician who has been President of Venezuela since 2013. Previously he served under President Hugo Chávez as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2013 and as Vice President of Venezuela from 2012 to 2013.
A former bus driver, Maduro rose to become a trade union leader, before being elected to the National Assembly in 2000. He was appointed to a number of positions within the Venezuelan Government under Chávez, ultimately being made Foreign Minister in 2006. He was described during this time as the "most capable administrator and politician of Chávez's inner circle".
After Chávez's death was announced on 5 March 2013, Maduro assumed the powers and responsibilities of the President. A special election was held on 14 April 2013 to elect a new President, and Maduro won by a 1.5 percent margin as the candidate of the United Socialist Party; he was formally inaugurated on 19 April.
A former bus driver, Maduro rose to become a trade union leader, before being elected to the National Assembly in 2000. He was appointed to a number of positions within the Venezuelan Government under Chávez, ultimately being made Foreign Minister in 2006. He was described during this time as the "most capable administrator and politician of Chávez's inner circle".
After Chávez's death was announced on 5 March 2013, Maduro assumed the powers and responsibilities of the President. A special election was held on 14 April 2013 to elect a new President, and Maduro won by a 1.5 percent margin as the candidate of the United Socialist Party; he was formally inaugurated on 19 April.
Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan politician and economist. From 2000 until 2008, López was the mayor of the Chacao Municipality of Caracas. The Los Angeles Timessaid that López came to the attention of the administration of then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in 2000, and that during events surrounding the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt, "he orchestrated the public protests against Chávez and he played a central role in the citizen's arrest of Chavez's interior minister", Ramón Rodríguez Chacín,
In 2006, López was the leader of the opposition to President Chávez, as well as a social activist working for "grass-roots judicial reform".López led some of the February 2014 Venezuelan protests in Caracas: the government charged him with instigating arson, damage and criminal gatherings; he turned himself in to the military after addressing a crowd of supporters. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the arrest as a politically motivated move targeting him as an opponent of the government
In 2006, López was the leader of the opposition to President Chávez, as well as a social activist working for "grass-roots judicial reform".López led some of the February 2014 Venezuelan protests in Caracas: the government charged him with instigating arson, damage and criminal gatherings; he turned himself in to the military after addressing a crowd of supporters. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the arrest as a politically motivated move targeting him as an opponent of the government
Henrique Capriles Radonski is a Venezuelan politician and lawyer, currently serving as 36th Governor of Miranda. Capriles first ventured into politics at age 26, when he became the youngest member ever elected of the Venezuelan parliament.
In 2000, he co-founded the political party Primero Justicia, alongside politicians Julio Borges and Leopoldo Lopez, and ran successfully for the mayorship of the Baruta municipality in the regional elections held in July 2000. Two years into his first term as mayor, a failed coup d'état took place, temporarily removing then-President Hugo Chávez from office.
After President Hugo Chávez's health started to decline, Capriles became the strongest contender so stand a chance at the 2012 presidential elections. He was later selected as the formal opposition candidate after winning the primaries held on February 2012.
In 2000, he co-founded the political party Primero Justicia, alongside politicians Julio Borges and Leopoldo Lopez, and ran successfully for the mayorship of the Baruta municipality in the regional elections held in July 2000. Two years into his first term as mayor, a failed coup d'état took place, temporarily removing then-President Hugo Chávez from office.
After President Hugo Chávez's health started to decline, Capriles became the strongest contender so stand a chance at the 2012 presidential elections. He was later selected as the formal opposition candidate after winning the primaries held on February 2012.