President of Venezuela since 1998. Introduced new constitution improving rights for indigenous and poor. Embarked in ambitious land reform project to divide up the large land elite estates so that poor Venezuelans could have farm land. With help from Cuba vastly improved the medical and literacy conditions in Venezuela. Opposed U.S. economic hegemony and free trade agenda that has decimated the economies of such countries as Argentina, Haiti, and Bolivia. In 2002 President Chavez was briefly out of office (for one day) when Pedro Carmona (Venezuelan Buisness man) and sectors of the Venezuelan buisness elite, military, backed by the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy and USAID fomented a coup against the democratically elected government. Within one day the people of Caracas marhced in the streets and kicked the 'dictator for a day' Pedro Carmona out of office. Carmona soon fled from house arrest and now lobbies in Miami for the downfall of legitimate government in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez is now back in office and moving forward with the Bolivarian revolution. Land reforms are ongoing. The economy is growing at a high rate. Venezuela is improving its military to fight off any invasion attempts by the Bush Administration. It is providing building materials and loans to those in poverty. Countries across South America are following in the foot steps of the Bolivarian Revolution.
