On April of 2002, the leaders from both workers union (CTV) and the main chamber of commerce (Fedecamaras) in Venezuela called for a general strike. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets on April 11, 2002 and marched towards the headquarters of Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA, in defense of its recently-fired 18.000 workers just because they disagree the political views of Chavez. Venezuela government used a software developed with a database of millions of records about the persons who signed the recall petition against Chavez to sacked these workers.

April 2002 Events:

The organizers of the general strike decided to redirect the march to the presidential palace, where a pro-Chávez demonstration was taking place. Gunfire and violence erupted between two groups of demonstrators, Caracas' Metropolitan Police, Venezuelan national guard and snipers were reported from the areas where both opposition and Chávez supporters were concentrated. Various civilians were shot and died in the incident.

Hugo Chavez History - April 2002

Then the commander-in-chief of the Venezuelan armed forces announced that Chávez had tendered his resignation from the presidency. While Chávez was brought to a military base and held there, military leaders appointed the president of Fedecamaras, Pedro Carmona, as Venezuela's interim president. Carmona's first decree reversed the major social and economic policies made by Chavez and dissolved both the National Assembly and the Venezuelan judiciary.

But this new government never had success because its disastrous way to put order and re-take the constitutional path. Carmona's decrees were followed by pro-Chávez uprisings and looting across Caracas. Then, Venezuelan soldiers loyal to Chavez started what they called a "counter-coup" and retrieved Chávez from captivity. Chávez resumed his presidency on the night of Saturday, April 13, 2002.

Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro

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In the aftermath of those events, Chávez's primary objectives of fundamental social and economic transformation and redistribution accelerated dramatically. Chávez himself placed the development and implementation of the "Bolivarian Missions" once again at the forefront of his political agenda. But in recent years, Hugo Chavez history as president of Venezuela are turning more into foreing political affairs rather than focus on local problems.

Hugo Chavez History - Iran Relationships

Chávez focused considerably on Venezuela's foreign relations via new bilateral and multilateral agreements with Argentina, China, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and specially with anti-american regimes, such as Cuba's Fidel Castro, Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and North Korea's Kim Young-Il.

Arms Build-Up:

Hugo Chavez history has now involving an arm's race as he accused United State government to prepare an invasion to Venezuela and take control of Venezuela's oil. Chavez was dealing the purchase of many kind of weapons, from pistols to missiles, and also military equipment, including helicopters, Sukhoi aircrafts and even submarines. He has been making agreements with Russia, Iran and North Korea for the purchase of these weapons.

The United States government has opposed and lobbied against numerous Venezuelan arms purchases, including a purchase of 100,000 rifles from Russia, which United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld implied would be passed on to FARC, and the purchase of aircraft from Brazil. The United States has also warned Israel to not carry through on a deal to upgrade Venezuela's aging fleet of F-16s, and has similarly pressured Spain. Wikipedia

President Hugo Chavez

Latest Decisions:

One of the latest actions on Hugo Chavez history as president is the signed of an agreement to buy all power supply companies in Venezuela and the mayor telecom Venezuela company CANTV. He's also warned local banks to a possible intervention. Latest announce was to the Cable and Satellite TV networks to broadcast the Venezuela national anthem and Hugo Chavez's long speeches live.