To some he is the saviour of the country, but to others the Venezuelan president appears increasingly dictatorial.
When Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998, it was on a wave of popular anger towards the country(***)s traditional ruling elite [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 18 Sep 201118 Sep 2011
He took office in 1999 and began implementing his brand of (***)socialism for the 21st Century(***) [EPA]
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But some have grown disillusioned with their president and his brand of (***)socialism for the 21st Century(***) [GALLO/GETTY]
And those who allege that he is a post-Cold War model of authoritarian rule [GALLO/GETTY]
The opposition also claim that Chavez(***)s housing policy has been a failure [GALLO/GETTY]
Chavez says he aims to build two million homes for those on low incomes by 2017, but opposition parties have dismissed this as an electoral ploy in the run-up to 2012(***)s election, in which Chavez plans to run for a fourth term [GALLO/GETTY]
And critics argue that his housing policy has also been a failure [GALLO/GETTY]
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And his critics argue that despite his social programmes, which include providing education and health care to all, poverty and unemployment remains widespread [GALLO/GETTY]
In the country of 29 million people, 51% are thought to live in shantytowns with limited access to basic services [GALLO/GETTY]
But opponents argue that this is part of an electoral ploy in the run-up to the 2012 election, in which Chavez plans to run for a fourth term [GALLO/GETTY]
Chavez has also clashed with church leaders, who he has occused of siding with the wealthy and neglecting the poor [GALLO/GETTY]
In addition, accusations of irresponsible mining operations that are endangering rain forests and indigenous people have been levied at the president [EPA]
These included the creation of a new constitution and the nationalisation of several key industries [GALLO/GETTY]
This featured a series of socialist reforms, introduced as part of his Bolivarian Revolution [EPA]
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His close relationship with Cuba, where he has been receiving cancer treatment and to which Venezuela has been providing 100,000 barrels of subsidised petroleum a day, has further split those who support and oppose the Venezuelan leader [EPA]
China and Venezuela have jointly invested over $10bn in oil and infrastructure projects. [GALLO/GETTY]
Voters Reject Chavez(***)(***)s Referendum On Constitutional Reforms Caption: CARACAS, VENEZUELA - DECEMBER 6: A man works on his car in the barrio of Petare after opposition supporters defeated a referendum on changes to the Constitution proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez December 6, 2007 in Caracas, Venezuela. Petare usually leans heavily pro-Chavez but a majority of the neighborhood voted against the referendum. The tightly contested referendum proposed an elimination of term limits for Chavez and a transformation of Venezuela into a (***)(***)socialist economy.(***)(***) Voters defeated the measures by a vote of 51 percent to 49 percent. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
According to the electoral authorities, 54% voted in favour of the amendment, but the opposition - a coalition of students and small political parties - argued that in a country saturated with posters and state television networks urging people to vote (***)si(***), the (***)no(***) campaign stood little chance [GALLO/GETTY]
epa02856697 Handout picture provided by the Miraflores Presidential Office, shows Venezuela(***)(***)s President Hugo Chavez appearing with virtually no hair as an effect of the chemotherapy cancer treatment, on 05 August 2011. Chavez said on television that the second phase of this treatment has begun and that in the next hours he would be forced to slow down a little his public profile. EPA/Prensa Miraflores EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
And, despite his illness, Chavez says he intends to run for the presidency again in 2012 [EPA]
In February 2009, Chavez won a referendum on a constitutional amendment abolishing term limits for elected officials, himself included [GALLO/GETTY]
Chavez says he aims to build two million homes for those on low incomes by 2017, but opposition parties have dismissed this as an electoral ploy in the run-up to 2012(***)s election, in which Chavez plans to run for a fourth term [GALLO/GETTY]
Voters Reject Chavez(***)(***)s Referendum On Constitutional Reforms Caption: CARACAS, VENEZUELA - DECEMBER 6: A man works on his car in the barrio of Petare after opposition supporters defeated a referendum on changes to the Constitution proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez December 6, 2007 in Caracas, Venezuela. Petare usually leans heavily pro-Chavez but a majority of the neighborhood voted against the referendum. The tightly contested referendum proposed an elimination of term limits for Chavez and a transformation of Venezuela into a (***)(***)socialist economy.(***)(***) Voters defeated the measures by a vote of 51 percent to 49 percent. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
This poverty, they argue, is all the more shocking in a country with the largest oil reserves in the Americas and which was once the world(***)s largest oil exporter [GALLO/GETTY]
In the country of 29 million people, 51% are thought to live in shantytowns with limited access to basic services [GALLO/GETTY]
South Of The Border Red Carpet - 66th Venice Film Festival Caption: VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 07: Venezuela(***)(***)s President Hugo Chavez and director Oliver Stone attends the (***)(***)South Of The Border(***)(***) premiere at the Sala Grande during the 66th Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2009 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)
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But to his many supporters, Hugo Chavez remains the country(***)s saviour [EPA]
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epa02895375 Venezuela(***)(***)s President, Hugo Chavez, participates in an event at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, 02 September 2011. Chavez left the hospital in a very good condition after receiving a chemotherapy treatment. EPA/DAVID FERNANDEZ
And, despite his illness, Chavez says he intends to run for the presidency again in 2012 [EPA]
epa02856697 Handout picture provided by the Miraflores Presidential Office, shows Venezuela(***)(***)s President Hugo Chavez appearing with virtually no hair as an effect of the chemotherapy cancer treatment, on 05 August 2011. Chavez said on television that the second phase of this treatment has begun and that in the next hours he would be forced to slow down a little his public profile. EPA/Prensa Miraflores EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
They also point towards an increasingly politicised military and over-dependence on the petroleum industry [EPA]
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Chavez has argued that he needs more time as president to ensure that his socialist revolution takes root [EPA]
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But some Venezuelans have grown disillusioned with their president - arguing that he is becoming increasingly autocratic and is clamping down on those who oppose his policies [GALLO/GETTY]
