Charismatic man of the people or dangerous autocrat endangering democracy? Hugo Chavez divides a nation.
When Hugo Chavez was elected president of Venezuela in 1998, it was on a wave of anger towards the country(***)s traditional ruling elite [EPA]
Published On 19 Sep 201119 Sep 2011
He took office in 1999 and began implementing his brand of (***)socialism for the 21st Century(***) [EPA]
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This featured a series of socialist reforms, introduced as part of his Bolivarian Revolution [EPA]
These included the creation of a new constitution and the nationalisation of several key industries [GALLO/GETTY]
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]
Chavez has also clashed with church leaders, who he has occused of siding with the wealthy and neglecting the poor [GALLO/GETTY]
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]
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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]
The opposition also claim that Chavez(***)s housing policy has been a failure [GALLO/GETTY]
In the country of 29 million people, 51% are thought to live in shantytowns with limited access to basic services [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]
In February 2009, Chavez won a referendum on a constitutional amendment abolishing term limits for elected officials, himself included [GALLO/GETTY]
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]
Chavez has argued that he needs more time as president to ensure that his socialist revolution takes root [EPA]
The country is largely divided between those who see him as the leader of a grassroots movement against US imperialism [GALLO/GETTY]
And those who allege that he is a post-Cold War model of authoritarian rule [GALLO/GETTY]
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]
Critics say he has weakened Venezuela(***)s democratic institutions and caused political polarisation [GALLO/GETTY]
They also point towards an increasingly politicised military and over-dependence on the petroleum industry [EPA]
In addition, accusations of irresponsible mining operations that are endangering rain forests and indigenous people have been levied at the president [EPA]
But to his many supporters, Hugo Chavez remains the country(***)s saviour [EPA]
And, despite his illness, Chavez says he intends to run for the presidency again in 2012 [EPA]
