Venezuela

Basic pre-1958 Timeline

1829-30 Venezuela secedes from Gran Colombia and becomes an independent republic with its capital at Caracas.

1870-88 - Venezuela governed by Antonio Guzman Blanco, who attracts foreign investment, modernizes infrastructure and develops agriculture and education.

1908-35 - Dictator Juan Vicente Gomez governs at a time when Venezuela becomes world's largest exporter of oil.

1947-48 - President Romulo Gallegos, Venezuela's first democratically elected leader, overthrown within eight months in military coup led by Marcos Perez Jimenez.

1958 - Perez Jimenez ousted; Romulo Betancourt of the Democratic Action Party (AD) wins democratic presidential election.

Adapted from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1229348.stm

Pre-Chávez Timeline

1983-84 - Fall in world oil prices generates unrest and cuts in welfare spending; Dr Jaime Lusinchi (AD) elected president and signs pact involving government, trade unions and business.

1989 - Carlos Andres Perez (AD) elected president against the background of economic depression, which necessitates an austerity program and an IMF loan. Social and political upheaval includes riots, in which between 300 and 2,000 people are killed, martial law and a general strike.

1992 - Some 120 people are killed in two attempted coups, the first led by future president Colonel Hugo Chavez, and the second carried out by his supporters. Chavez is jailed for two years before being pardoned.

1993-95 - Ramon Jose Velasquez becomes interim president after Perez is ousted on charges of corruption; Rafael Caldera elected president.

1993 Presidential Elections

Source: http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Elecdata/Venezuela/pres93.html

1998 Election

http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Elecdata/Venezuela/pre98.html

Hugo Chávez

• Breakdown of old system.

• Lack of a viable opposition.

• Populism.

• Oil.

• Center-left, “Bolivarian,” “Socialism”

• ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America and the Caribbean)

Hugo Chávez: Key Dates

• Feb 1999: Takes office after winning 1998 election

• July: Re-elected under new constitution for a six-year term

• April 2002: Abortive coup. Chavez returns to power after two days

• August 2004: Wins recall referendum on whether he should serve out rest of his term

• Dec 2006: Wins another six-year term with 63%

• Dec 2007: Loses constitutional referendum which included proposal to allow the president to run indefinitely for office

• Feb 2009: Wins referendum that lifts term limits on elected officials

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3517106.stm

1999 Constitutional Reform Referendum

2000 Election

2004 Referendum

2006

2007 Referendum

2007 Referendum

2009 Referendum

More Hugo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4453738.stm

http://www.poliblogger.com/?p=13485

ALBA

Members: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela

Regional Left/Right