Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías born on July 28, 1954 in the small town of Sabaneta in the Venezuelan's countryside state of Barinas. He is of mixed Amerindian, Afro-Venezuelan, and Spanish descent. Chávez was raised in a thatched palm leaf house near Sabaneta.

President Hugo Chavez

At age of 17th, Chávez enrolled at the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences. After graduating in 1975 as a sub-lieutenant with a degree in Military Arts and Science, Hugo Chávez entered military service for several months. He was then allowed to pursue graduate studies in political science at Caracas' Simón Bolívar University, but left without a degree.

Chávez and fellow students developed a left-nationalist political doctrine that they termed "Bolivarianism," inspired by the Pan-American philosophy of 19th century Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, the influence of former Peruvian President Juan Velasco and the thought of various socialist and communist leaders including Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. In the 80's they established a group called "Movimiento Bolivariano Revolucionario 200" (MBR-200).

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1992 Coup d'état:

After an extended period of popular dissatisfaction and economic decline under the administration of President Carlos Andrés Pérez and the violent repression known as "El Caracazo" on 1989, Hugo Chávez made extensive preparations for a military coup d'état. On February 4, 1992, five army units under Chávez's command barreled into urban Caracas with the mission of assaulting and overwhelming key military and communications installations throughout the city, including the Miraflores presidential palace, the defense ministry, La Carlota military airport, the historical museum and the state-owned TV station "Venezolana de Televisión". Hugo Chávez's ultimate goal was to intercept and take custody of Pérez.

Further, Chávez's allies were unable to broadcast their prerecorded tapes on the national airwaves in which Chávez planned to issue a general call for a mass civilian uprising against Pérez. As the coup unfolded, the coup plotters were unable to capture Pérez. Fourteen soldiers were killed, and 50 soldiers and some 80 civilians injured in the ensuing violence. Chávez, alarmed, soon gave himself up to the government. He was then allowed to appear on national television to call for all remaining rebel detachments in Venezuela to cease hostilities. When he did so, Chávez famously quipped on national television that he had only failed "por ahora" (for now). Wikipedia

Hugo chavez - Coup Surrender

Chavez was hidden during the whole coup d'état, after he surrendered, his sweaty rifle was seized, with all bullets inside. This was commented by one of the police officers who captured him, on a recent Internet broadcasted radio program.

Chávez was pardoned by President Rafael Caldera in 1994. Upon his release, Chávez reconstituted the MBR-200 as the political party the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR). Consequently Chavez lunched his candidacy for President on 1997, using his charisma and flamboyant public speaking style to catch the votes from the poorest and working class. Chávez won the 1998 presidential election on December 6, 1998 with 56% of the vote.

Since then, President Hugo Chavez has been promoting changes on every aspect of the Republic of Venezuela, starting by the national constitution, the name of the country (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) and the political system. Today, the changes still continue, now promoting a new constitution written by Hugo Chavez himself and established a socialist, similar to Cuba, political model that he has called "The Socialism of 21st Century", which he planned to stay in the Presidency forever. But his latest politics are now focusing on the oil business, thanks for the rising on the oil prices.