Venezuela's referendum: President for life?
Chavez loses vote
President Chavez crashes to an unprecedented defeat as Venezuelans reject his bid to run for reelection indefinitely and accelerate his socialist revolution in the OPEC nation. Full Article | Video
Factbox: Factbox: Chavez's career
As a young paratroop officer, Chavez leads a botched military coup against the government of President Carlos Andres Perez. (REUTERS/File photo)
Chavez wins the presidency with 56 percent of the vote and immediately calls for a popular assembly to rewrite the constitution. His opponents began to criticize his left-wing ideals. (Photo: Kimberly White/REUTERS)
Weeks of street protests by opponents calling Chavez a dictator end in a gunfire near the presidential palace. Chavez is ousted in a brief coup. But two days later his supporters flood the street. (Photo: Kimberly White/REUTERS)
More street protests lead to a strike against Chavez. Executives and oil workers at state petroleum company PDVSA walk off the job to back the protest and the oil industry of the OPEC nation grinds to a halt, driving. (Photo: Jorge Silva/REUTERS)
Another round of protests marks the build up to a recall referendum sought by the opposition to cut short Chavez's mandate. The Organization of American States negotiates to broker an agreement over how the referendum will be carried out. (Photo: Mariana Bazo/REUTERS)
After spending billions in oil revenue to provide free health and education projects for the poor, Chavez easily wins a landslide re-election for the presidency and vows to further consolidate his revolution. (Photo: Jorge Silva/REUTERS)
Previous Election Results
| December 2006 Presidential election |
Chavez 61.8% |
Manuel Rosales 36.9% |
| Seen by many opponents as the last chance to defeat Chavez at the ballot box, the election confirms Chavez's popularity and the fractured nature of his opponents. Chavez promises to accelerate his "red" revolution in Venezuela and the vote mandate paves the way for him to begin nationalizing huge heavy oil and telecommunications assets involving foreign companies.ations assets involving foreign companies. | ||
| August 2004 Recall referendum |
Opposed to recall 59% |
In favor of recall 41% |
| Chavez wins a majority although the opposition questions the results, a charge dismissed by international observers. The vote further consolidates Chavez's government after he survived a 2002 coup and an opposition-led oil strike and he promises to speed up his revolutionary reforms, such as land distribution and solidifying ties with allies in the region to counter U.S. influence in Latin America. | ||
| July 2000 Presidential election |
Chavez 60% |
Francisco Arias Cardenas 38% |
| After winning a referendum on constitutional reforms, Chavez is re-elected under the new magna carta for six years. The landslide win against Francisco Arias Cardenas shores up Chavez's position and sets the stage for him to begin reforming Venezuela in his left-wing vision even as Venezuela's economy struggles. | ||
| December 1998 Presidential election |
Chavez 56% |
Salas Romer 40% |
| Chavez Promises reforms to challenge corrupt elites and help the long-abandoned poor majority, and wins his first election, which allows him to initiate his self-styled socialist revolution. | ||
