Hugo Chavez, a prominent and controversial leader in Latin America, won another six-year term as Venezuela's president in October 2012. A former army paratrooper, Chavez first gained attention as a leader of a failed coup in 1992. He later won the presidency in 1998, promising revolutionary social policies. Despite his popularity among the poor, critics accuse him of becoming increasingly autocratic. Chavez has faced health challenges, including cancer, and named Nicolas Maduro as his preferred successor. His government has implemented social programs, but poverty and unemployment remain issues.
documents/EFTA00615154.pdf
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