REPORT ON VENEZUELAVENEZUELA THE TwoTwo FACESFACES OFOF HUGO CHAVEZCHAVEZ--,

ChavezChdvez giving his 72-second televised speechspeech afterafter the failed FebruaiyFebruary 4, 19921992 coupcoup attempt. attempt. Chavez's Chdvez's presidential campaign posterposter forfor the May 28, 2000 election,election, which which reads: reads: "With "With Chavez Chavez thethe people people lead." lead." BYBy GABRIELGABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ

tt dusk, Carlos AndrésAndr6s P6rezPerez walked off the responsibilityresponsibility for the action and turnedturned hishis speechspeech intointo aa plane thatthat hadhad broughtbrought himhim fromfrom Davos,Davos, political triumph. Although hehe spent two years in jail ASwitzerland, and was surprised toto see his before being amnestiedamnestied by PresidentPresident Rafael Caldera, defense minister, General Fernando Ochoa Antich,Antich, ononmany of hishis supporters,supporters, andand not a few of his enemies, thethe tarmac.tarmac. "What's up?" hehe asked,asked, concerned.concerned. The view the speechspeech he made in defeat as thethe beginningbeginning ofof minister put him atat ease with a story that was so believ-thethe electoral campaign thatthat would carry himhim toto thethe pres-pres- ableable that thethe PresidentPresident went home to thethe presidentialidencyidency justjust sevenseven years later. residence La Casona, instead of his office in Miraflores Hugo ChivezChavez FrfasFrIas toldtold meme thisthis asas wewe roderode inin a Palace. He was aboutabout to fall asleepasleep when the same mm-min- Venezuelan Air Force plane from Havana to CaracasCaracas isterister of defense called to inform him of a military upris-lessless than twotwo weeks before his inaugurationinauguration as the con- ing in Maracay. As soon as he had setset footfoot inin Miraflo-stitutionalstitutional president of Venezuela onon February 2,2, 1999. res, thethe artillery blasts began. We had met three days earlier in Havana, during aa It was February 4, 1992.1992. Colonel Hugo ChavezChivez Frfas,meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro and Colom- in sacredsacred homagehomage to famousfamous dates, waswas leading thethe bian President Andr6sAndrés Pastrana, and the first thing that assaultassault from anan improvisedimprovised headquarters in La Planicieimpressedimpressed me was his body of reinforced concrete.concrete. HeHe Historical Museum. TheThe President knewknew thenthen that hishis had an immediate friendliness and a home-grown had an immediate friendliness and a home-grown cs only chance was to turn to the people,people, and he went charm that were unmistakably Venezuelan. We bothz straightstraight to the studiosstudios of VenevisiónVenevisi6n toto speak toto the tried to meet up again, but it was not possible forfor eithereither nation. Twelve hours later, the military coup was a fail-of us, soso wewe decideddecided to flyfly together to Caracas so we ure. ChavezChdvez surrendered,surrendered, but only underunder thethe conditioncondition couldcould chat about his life and other miracles. thatthat he tootoo be allowed to speakspeak to thethe peoplepeople on televi- It waswas aa goodgood experienceexperience forfor aa semi-retiredsemi-retired reporter.reporter. sion.sion. The young creolecreole colonel,colonel, with his parachutist's While he told me his life, bitbit byby bit I discovered aa per-per-= beret andand his admirableadmirable ease with words, took fullfullsonalitysonality that did not correspond at all to the despoticdespotic 5 imageimage we get of him throughthrough thethe media.media. ItIt waswas aa differ-differ-4U entent Chavez. Which of the two was real? z The latest book byby GabrielGabriel Garcia Garcia Marquez Mjrquez is NewsNews ofof aa The strongest argument against himhim during the cam- Kidnapping (Knopf, 1997). 1997). GarciaGarcia Marquez Mdrquez is the editorial board board paign was his recent past as a coup-plotting conspirator. Iz director of of the the Colombian Colombian weekly weekly newsmagazine, newsmagazine, Revista Revista Cam-Cam- But the history of Venezuela has absorbed atat leastleast fourfour0 bio,bio, inin whichwhich this this essay essay originallyoriginally appeared. appeared. TranslatedTranslated from thethe Spanish Spanish by by MarkMark Fried. Fried. like him, beginning with RómuloR6mulo Betancourt, correctly

18 NACIA REPORTREPORT ON ON THE THE AMERICASAMERICAS REPORT ON VENEZUELAVENEZUELA

or incorrectly remembered todaytoday asas the father ofofschoolsschools the chance to pursue academicacademic studiesstudies asas farfar asas Venezuelan democracy. He overthrew IsafasIsalas Medina they wished. Angarita, an old military democrat who hadhad triedtried toto cleansecleanse the country of the 36-year36-year legacylegacy ofof Juan hávezhdvez studiedstudied political science,science, history and Vicente Gdmez.G6mez. HisHis successor, novelistnovelist ROmuloR6mulo Galle-Galle- Marxism-Leninism. HeHe developed aa passion for gos, waswas overthrownoverthrown by GeneralGeneral MarcosMarcos PerezPdrez Cthethe lifelife andand workwork ofof BolIvar—hisBolivar-his seniorsenior Leo—Leo- Jimdnez,Jim6nez, who was to remain in power for 1111 years. He, whose proclamations he learnedlearned by heart. But his first inin turn,turn, waswas overthrownoverthrown by an entire generation ofawarenessawareness of contemporary politics came with thethe young democratsdemocrats whowho inaugurated death of Chilean President Salvador thethe longestlongest period of electedelected presi-presi- Allende in SeptemberSeptember 1973.1973. dents.dents. Chavez did not understand: If vhelmed by Chavez did not understand: The February coup seems toto bebe thethe I waswas overoverwhelmed by Chileans elected Allende, why only thing that did not turn out well the feeling that II had had shouldshould Chilean officersofficers overthrowoverthrow for Hugo ChavezChAvez Frfas.Frias. HeHe views itit him? A short while later, the cap- positively, however, as a providential justjust beenbeen trtravelingaveling and tain of hishis companycompany assigned him reverse.reverse. It isis hishis wayway ofof understand-understand- chatting ple asantly with the task of keeping an eye on a son inging goodgood luck,luck, or intelligence,intelligence, orchatting pleasantly withof JoséJos6 Vicente Rangel, who was intuition, or astuteness, or whatever two opposingoppo sing men.men. believed to be a Communist. "Look"Look one can call the magic touch that has atat thethe wayway lifelife unfolds,"unfolds," ChavezChbvez favored him since he entered the told me with anan explosiveexplosive laugh. world in Sabaneta, inin the state of "Now"Now his father is my foreign min- Barinas, on JulyJuly 28, 1954, bornborn underunder Leo,Leo, thethe signsign of ister."ister." Even more ironicironic isis thethe factfact that when he gradu- power. Chbvez,Chavez, aa fervent Catholic, attributes his ated he received his saber from the hands of the Presi- charmed existence toto the 100-year-old100-year-old scapular which dent whom 20 years later he would try to overthrow, he has worn since childhood, inherited fromfrom aa maternalmaternalCarlos AndrésAndr6s Perez.P6rez. great-grandfather, Colonel PedroPedro P6rezPerez Delgado,Delgado, oneone ofof "What's"What's more,"more," I toldtold him,him, "you were about to kill his tutelary heroes. him." His parents barely scraped by on their primary- "Not"Not at all," ChavezChdvez protested. "The"The ideaidea was to set school-teacherschool-teacher salaries, andand fromfrom thethe ageage ofof ninenine hehe hadhadupup a constituent assembly and return to the barracks." to help themthem by sellingselling candiescandies and fruitfruit fromfrom a cart.cart. From the first moment I realized that he was a natural Sometimes he went byby donkey toto visit his maternal storyteller, a productproduct of Venezuela'sVenezuela's creative, exhilarat- grandmother in Los Rastrojos, a neighboring town that ing popular culture. He hashas aa greatgreat sensesense ofof timingtiming andand seemedseemed like a city because it had a littlelittle power plant a memory that has a touch of the supernatural, allowing that provided two hours of lights inin thethe evening,evening, asas wellwell him to recite poems by PabloPablo Neruda or WaltWalt Whit- asas aa midwifemidwife who welcomed him and his four brothers man, or entire passages of R6muloRdmulo Gallegos. intointo the world. His mother wanted himhim toto be a priest, At a veryvery youngyoung age,age, by chance,chance, he discovered that but he only made it to acolyte, though hehe rangrang the bellsbellshis great-grandfather waswas notnot a mass murderer, asas his with such delightdelight that everyone recognized his ring. mother had told him, but a legendarylegendary warrior from the "It's"It's HugoHugo who'swho's ringing,"ringing," theythey would say. Among hishistimes of JuanJuan Vicente Gómez.G6mez. Chavez's enthusiasmenthusiasm mother's booksbooks hehe foundfound anan encyclopedia,encyclopedia, whose first was such that hehe decided toto writewrite aa bookbook toto set thethe chapterchapter seemed heaven-sent and seduced himhim immedi- record straight.straight. He waded through historical archives ately:ately: "How to Succeed in Life."Life." and military libraries, covering thethe region from town to It.was actually just a list of options, and he triedtried near- town, his historian's kit in aa backpack,backpack, to reconstruct lyly all of them.them. AsAs aa 12-year-old12-year-old painter,painter, astonished by his great-grandfather's travels by the testimonies of his thethe worksworks of MichelangeloMichelangelo and David,David, he won firstfirst survivors. From that point,point, hehe placedplaced him him onon the the altaraltar ofof prize at aa regionalregional exhibit. As a musician,musician, he became his heroes andand began to wear thethe protectiveprotective scapularscapular indispensableindispensable at birthday parties and serenades with hishisthat had been his. mastery of the cuatro and his excellent voice. AsAs a One day he crossed the Arauca bridge at the baseballbaseball player, he became a first-rate catcher. TheThe mil- Venezuelan-Colombian border,border, unawareunaware thatthat he had italyitary option was not on the list, nor had it occurred toto crossed into Colombian territory. The Colombian cap- him until he was told that the best routeroute toto the major tain who searchedsearched his backpack found material reasonsreasons leaguesleagues was via the military academy at Barinas. It for accusingaccusing him of beingbeing aa spy: HeHe had a camera, a must have been another of the scapular's miracles,tape-recorder, secret papers,papers, photosphotos ofof the region, a because he entered the academy onon thethe firstfirst dayday ofof thethegraphic military map and two regulation pistols. His AndrdsAndr6s Bello Plan, which gave students in military identity documents, as usual with spies, could have

VOLVoL XXXIII, No 66 MAY/JUNEMAY/JUNE 2000 1919 REPORT ON VENEZUELAVENEZUELA

been false. The discussion went on for several hours in foundingfounding members: five soldiers andand himself,himself, withwith thethe an office wherewhere the only painting onon the wall waswas aa por-por-rankrank of sub-lieutenant.sub-lieutenant. "To"To what end?" II asked. Very traittrait of BolIvarBolivar astride his horse.horse. "I"I waswas nearly exhaust-simple, he replied: 'To"To prepare ourselves in case some-some- ed,"ed," ChavezChdvez told me. "The more I explained the lessless hehethingthing happened." A year later, by this timetime command- understood." Then the words thatthat would savesave him inging parachutists in aa MaracayMaracay armored battalion, he crossedcrossed his mind: "Look, my captain, thethe way life is: began a larger conspiracy. But hehe toldtold meme hehe waswas usingusing JustJust a century ago we were a single army, and thatthat fel-fel-thethe word conspiracy only inin its figurative sense of lowlow who is watching us from thethe painting waswas thethe com-pulling people together for a common tasktask theythey allall mander of us both. How could II be a spy?" The cap-agreedagreed to. tain,tain, moved, began to speakspeak of the marvelsmarvels of Gran Colombia, and the two ended up that nightnight drinkingdrinking hat was thethe situationsituation onon DecemberDecember 17, 19821982 beer from both countries inin an Arauca bar.bar.11 The fol- when an unexpected episode took placeplace that lowinglowing morning, with a headache they both shared, thetheTChavezChdvez considers decisive inin his life.life. HeHe was a captaincaptain returned ChAvez'sChavez's historian's tools and, in the captaincaptain in a secondsecond regimentregiment ofof parachutists, and an middle of the international bridge, gave him a farewellassistantassistant intelligence officer. When he least expectedexpected embrace. it, thethe commandercommander of thethe regiment,regiment, Angel Manrique, "From that time I had aa concreteconcrete sensesense that some- gave him the task of makingmaking a speechspeech toto 1,2001,200 offi-offi- thing was wrong in Venezuela," Chavez told me. They cerscers and troops. assignedassigned him to Oriente to head a squadsquad of 1313 soldiers At one in thethe afternoon, with the battalion standing andand a communications team, on a mission to liquidateat attentionattention on the soccersoccer field inside the base, the the last survivingsurviving guerrillas. One rainy night, a colonelmaster of ceremoniesceremonies introduced him. "And the from militaiymilitary intelligence leadingleading aa patrol of soldiersspeech?"speech?" the regiment commander askedasked as he soughtsought refuge in his camp. They held aa fewfew suspectedsuspected watched him climb up on the stage without any guerrillas, recently captured, green around the gills and papers. "I have no written speech," Chavez answered. nothing butbut skin and bones. At about tenten o'clock, as And he began to improvise. It was a shortshort speech, ChavezChivez was drifting off to sleep,sleep, hehe heardheard heart-rend-heart-rend- inspired by Bolivar and Marti,MartI, but with a personalpersonal ing shoutsshouts fromfrom thethe next room. "The"The soldierssoldiers werewere take on LatinLatin America's situationsituation of oppressionoppression 200 beating the prisonersprisoners withwith baseball bats wrapped in years after its independence. The officers, his own and rags so theythey wouldn'twouldn't leaveleave marks,"marks," ChavezChAvez said.said. thosethose whowho werewere not,not, listenedlistened impassively.impassively. AmongAmong Indignant, hehe demanded thatthat thethe colonel turn the pris- them were CaptainsCaptains Felipe Acosta Carle and JesusJesds oners over to him or leave, as he was not about to allowUrdaneta Hernfndez,Hernández, sympathizers ofof his movement. anyone to be tortured under his command. "The next The commander of the base,base, visibly disgusted, gave day they threatened meme with aa court martial forfor insub-insub-him a scoldingscolding everyone could hear: "Chivez,"Chavez, you ordination," ChAvezChavez told me, "but theythey onlyonly heldheld meme inin sound like a politician." observation for a while." "Understood," ChdvezChavez replied.replied. A few days later he had another experience thatthat over-over- Felipe Acosta, who was six-foot-six andand who ten whelmed the previous ones. He was buying meatmeat forfor soldiers could not subdue,subdue, stood face-to-face with the his troops when aa militarymilitary helicopter landed inside the commander,commander, and told him: "You are wrong, my com- base; itit waswas loadedloaded withwith soldierssoldiers badly wounded in amander. ChivezChavez isis nono politician.politician. He He isis aa captain ofof guerrilla ambush. In his arms ChavezChAvez carried a soldier today'stoday's men,men, and when you hear what he said in his who had several bullet wounds inin hishis body.body. "Don't"Don't letletspeech, you will piss your pants." me die,die, my lieutenant,"lieutenant," he said trembling. They barelybarely Then Colonel Manrique called the troops to atten- managed to get him to aa car.car. SevenSeven moremore died. Thattiontion andand said: "I wantwant youyou toto knowknow thatthat what Captain night,night, lying awake inin his hammock, Chavez wondered:ChavezChbvez said was authorized by me. I gave the orderorder "What"What amam I doing here? On one side peasants inin mili-mili-forfor him toto givegive thatthat speech,speech, andand everythingeverything he said,said, tarytary uniforms torture peasant guerrillas, andand onon thethealthoughalthough he did not put it in writing, he told me yester- other peasant guerrillas kill peasants dressed inin green. day." He mademade aa dramaticdramatic pause, and concluded with a At thisthis point,point, now that the war is virtually over, it cut-and-drycut-and-dry order: "None of this is to leaveleave thisthis base!"base!" makes no sense for anyone to shoot anybody." And inin When the ceremony was over, Chavez wentwent on thethe airplaneairplane thatthat carried us toto Caracas,Caracas, hehe concluded,concluded, horseback with captains Felipe Acosta and Jesds "That"That was when II faced my firstfirst existential crisis." Urdaneta to SamánSamin del Guere, six miles away, and The following day he awokeawoke convinced that it wastherethere theythey repeatedrepeated the solemnsolemn oathoath SimonSim6n BolIvarBolivar his destiny to found a movement. And so he did at themade on Aventino Hill. "At the end, I changedchanged somesome ageage of 23,23, andand gave itit aa namename thatthat waswas anan obviousobvious of the words," ChavezChlivez told me. "Instead ofof 'When we choice:choice: the Bolivarian People's Army of Venezuela. ItsItshave broken all the chains thatthat oppress us us byby willwill ofof

20 N..L1A0NACLA REPORTREPORT ONON THE THE AMERICASAMERICAS REPORT ON VENEZUELAVENEZUELA

Spanish power,'power,' we said: 'Until colonel, 'Where are all those soldierssoldiers we break the chains that oppressThe culminatinculminatinglg event in going?' BecauseBecause theythey werewere sendingsending us andand oppress the people by will out the ones from logistics who are not of the powerful."'powerful." Ch4vez'sChavez's liilifefe was trained for combat, even less forfor urban From then on, allall officersofficers join- El Caracazo, thie popular fighting. TheyThey were recruits who were inging thethe secretsecret movementmovement had to El Caracazo, the popularscaredscared of the rifle theythey were carrying.carrying. taketake that oath. The lastlast timetime wasuprising that devastatedcdevastated "So"So II askedasked thethe colonel:colonel: 'Where'Where isis during the recent electoral cam- that big group of people heading?' paign before a crowd of over Caracas inin 1989. And the colonel told me: 'To thethe 100,000 people. For years, they streets,streets, toto the streets.' The orderorder theythey held clandestineclandestine meetings, each gave was this: 'This thing has got to be one larger than the last, withwith representativesrepresentatives of mili- stopped nono mattermatter how, how, andand here here we we go.' go.' 'My'My God, butbut tarytary officersofficers from across the country. "We held meet-meet- what orders do they have?'have?' 'Well'Well Chavez,' thethe colonelcolonel ingsings thatthat lastedlasted forfor two days in hidden places, studyingstudyingreplied,replied, 'the orders are to stopstop this thing no matter thethe situationsituation inin thethe country,country, analyzing it,it, making con- how.' AndAnd I toldtold him:him: 'But'But mymy colonel,colonel, youyou cancan imag-imag- tacttact with friendly civilian groups." ineine what's goinggoing to happen.' And he toldtold me: 'Well'Well "Over"Over ten years," ChavezChivez told me, "we held fiveChavez,ChAvez, it's anan orderorder andand there is nothing you can do. congresses without being discovered." May it turn out asas GodGod wishes."'wishes." At thisthis point in our chat, the President laughed mis- Chavez says he hadhad a high fever at the time becausebecause chievously, andand with a wicked smile he said,said, "Well,"Well, he was sufferingsuffering from rubella, and when he started his we have always said that at first we were three. Butcarcar he saw a soldier running without hishis helmet,helmet, hishis riflerifle now we can say that in reality there was a fourth man, dragging and his munitions scattering behind him. "I whose identity we always hid in order to protect him. got out and called to him. And he climbed in, all ner- He was not discovereddiscovered on February 44 and he vous, sweating, a little 18-year-old18-year-old kid.kid. AndAnd II asked remained activeactive inin thethe army andand reachedreached thethe rankrank ofof him: 'So,'So, wherewhere are you going running likelike that?' that?' 'My colonel. But now it is 1999 and we cancan revealreveal thatthat thethe squad left me behind,' he said, 'and'and my lieutenantlieutenant is fourth man is here with us on this plane." He pointed headed off in that truck there. TakeTake me,me, mymy major,major, taketake his finger at a man in aa seatseat byby himself,himself, and said:me.' I caughtcaught upup toto thethe trucktruck andand askedasked the driver,driver, "Colonel Badull!" 'Where'Where are you going?'going?' AndAnd he he saidsaid to to me, me, 'I'I don'tdon't know a thing.' WhoWho wouldwould have imagined." ChivezChavez ccording to Commander Chivez'sChavez's version of his took a deepdeep breath and nearlynearly shouted,shouted, choking onon the life, the culminatingculminating eventevent waswas El Caracazo. anguish of thatthat terrible night:night: "You"You know,know, youyou send sol-sol- "ee often repeated:repeated: "Napoleon said that a battle diers into the street, scared, with a rifle and 500 bullets, is decided in aa momentmoment ofof strategicstrategic inspiration."inspiration." From and they fire them all. They spray the streets withwith bul- that thought,thought, ChavezChivez developed three concepts. First, lets, theythey spray thethe hills, thethe poorpoor barrios.barnos. ItIt waswas aa disas-disas- the historicalhistorical hour. Another, the strategic minute. And ter! And that's whatwhat happened:happened: thousandsthousands died, among finally, thethe tacticaltactical second.second. "We'We were worried because them Felipe Acosta." we didn'tdidn't wantwant to leaveleave the army," ChavezChAvez said. "We "And"And instinct tells me they ordered him killed," said had founded a movement, but we weren't sure whatChavez.Chivez. "It was the moment we were waiting forfor to for." The real drama was that what was about toto occur act." Said and done: From that moment theythey beganbegan toto did occur, and they were not ready. "In otherother words,"plan the coup d'6tatd'etat that would end in failure three Chavez concluded, "the strategic minute caught usus by years later. surprise."surprise." Our plane landed in Caracas at three in the morning.morning. II He was referring, ofof course,course, toto thethe street riotsriots ofof saw from the window the swamp of lightslights of thatthat unfor-unfor- February 27, 1989 that have become known asas El gettable city where II lived for three crucial years for Caracazo. Among those most surprised was ChavezChAvez Venezuela and for me. The President said good-bye himself. Carlos Andr6sAndrds PNrezPerez hadhad justjust taken office as with a CaribbeanCaribbean embraceembrace and anan implicitimplicit invitation:invitation: president after a landslide at the polls, and it waswas "We'll seesee eacheach otherother here on February 2." While he inconceivable thatthat 20 days later something so serious sauntered off with his bodyguards of decorated officers would taketake place.place. "I"I was on my wayway toto class atat the and close friends, I was overwhelmed by the feeling university, a graduate class, on thethe night ofof thethe twenty-twenty-that I hadhad just beenbeen travelingtraveling andand chattingchatting pleasantly seventh,seventh, and I stopped at Fort Tiuna to find a friend with two opposing men.men. OneOne toto whomwhom thethe capricescaprices ofof who could give me a bit of gas to get home,"home," ChavezChdvez fate had given an opportunity to save his country. The told me minutes before we landedlanded inin Caracas. "I"I saw other, an illusionist, who could pass into the history that theythey were sending outout thethe troopstroops and II asked aa books as justjust anotheranother despot. despot. 0 •

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Gabriel GarciaGarcIa MdrquezMárquez asksasks a similar question in But no locallocal stagestage can produce solutions that must an article based on a conversationconversation with Hugo ChAvezChavez be global.global. Solutions, if they are to come, willwill result during their flight back from Cuba last year. "I wasfrom the convergence of the actions of many actors on overwhelmed by the feeling," GarciaGarcIa MfrquezMárquez writes,writes,multiple national and global stages. Popular strugglesstruggles "that I had just beenbeen travelingtraveling and chatting pleasantly against the international debt, undignified labor condi- with two opposing men.men. OneOne toto whomwhom thethe capricescaprices ofoftions, ecological destruction and human rightsrights viola- fate had given an opportunity to savesave his country. The tions will be asas much aa part ofof thisthis collectivecollective under- other, an illusionist, who could pass into the history taking as effortsefforts withinwithin dominantdominant sectors to reducereduce books as just another despot."despot."212 global poverty and unrest. These converging contestscontests The stagestage isis now setset toto seesee whetherwhether ChavezChAvez will be requirerequire new conceptions ofof world development andand aa yet another magician offering only thethe ephemeral illu-illu-renewed commitmentcommitment toto social justicejustice at thethe national sionsion of progress,progress, or aa leaderleader capablecapable of usingusing hisand international levels. TheyThey require alliancesalliances amongamong remarkable personal magic to revitalizerevitalize Venezuela'sVenezuela's contenders as well as confrontations among them. moribund democracy. Much will depend on Chavez'sChivez's The pursuit of nationalnational progressprogress demands a globalglobal commitment toto include others at center stagestage and to redefinition ofof itsits aims and a transformationtransformation ofof thethe disrupt a dramadrama built uponupon the separationseparation between anconditions for itsits realization. ThisThis isis aa daunting chal-chal- allall powerfulpowerful leader and a passive audience. His first lenge, particularly inin comparisoncomparison toto thethe easiereasier chorechore ofof year of rule,rule, however,however, has consolidatedconsolidated his personalpresenting the brawl for positions in a declining sys- protagonism, creatingcreating dissension withinwithin hishis move-move- tem as a battle of positions, the squabble over its spoils ment, disaffection among his professional and intel- as a strugglestruggle over principles. ItIt wouldwould bebe tragictragic ifif thethe lectual supporters, and a growing erosion of his popu- drama unfolding in Venezuela werewere againagain enacted enacted asas ifif larlar base. Yet ChivezChavez hashas shownshown aa remarkableremarkable abilityability totothe nation's fate depended onon oneone man'sman's will, and if adjustadjust to changing circumstances. Even hishis mostmost effec-effec-this historical opening leads,leads, once more,more, toto thethe deifi- tivetive critic,critic, TeodoroTeodoro Petkoff, a socialistsocialist leader andand cation of the leader rather than to collective empower-empower- respectedrespected intellectual, considers ChAvezChavez anan astuteastute ment, to fightsfights overover spoils, rather than to aa renewedrenewed politician, a "sponge" who learns quickly and shouldcommitment to the pursuit of equity, nationallynationally asas wellwell not be underestimated.underestimated.'414 as globally.Uglobally. 0

TheThe Transformative PowerPower ofof ArtArt Hugo Chavez:Chivez: Venezuela's Redeemer?Redeemer? 1. GilbertGilbert Highet, Highet, The The Anatomy Anatomy of of Satire Satire (Princeton: (Princeton: PrincetonPrinceton University University 1.1. "Ex-coup"Ex-coup leader leader promises promises 'peaceful'peaceful revolution'revolution' inin Venezuela"Venezuela," Press, 1962), P.p. 3. .cnn.com,www.cnn.com, February February 1, 1, 1999. 1999. 2.2. WernerWerner Hoffman, Hoffman, La La caricature, caricature, dede VinciVinci a Picasso (Paris:(Paris: EditionsEditions 2. StudyStudy cited cited in in "Chavez's "ChBvez's muddledmuddled newnew world," world," The The Economist, Economist, Aimery-Somogy,Aimery-Somogy, 1958), p. 11. November 20, 1999. 3.3. M.M. Gonzalez Gonzalez Ramlrez, Ramirez, La La caricatura caricatura polftica.politica. Fuentes Fuentes para para Ia la historia historia de de 3. El Nacional (Caracas) online, online, May 11, 2000, p.p. D2.D2. Iala RevoluciónRevoluci6n mexicana (Mexico: FondoFondo dede CulturaCultura yy Economia, Economfa, 1955),1955), p. XXIII.XXIII. The 'IWoTwo Faces ofof Hugo ChavezCh6vez 4.4. CarlosCarlos Monsiváis, Monsivais, "La"La distorsibndistorsi6n eses Iala semejanza,"semejanza," in Aire dede familia 1.1. GranGran Colombia Colombia was was the the political political unit unit consisting consisting ofof present-day present-day (Mexico:(Mexico: CatélogoCatalogo del Museo de Arte Moderno, 1995),1995), p.p. 30. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama, which which won independenceindependence 5.5. MannerismMannerism is isa apainting painting style style once once described described as as a a perversionperversion ofof the the from SpainSpain in 1821.1821. Venezuela splitsplit fromfrom Gran Colombia inin 1830.1830. high ItalianItalian RenaissanceRenaissance andand now identifiedidentified asas aa consciousconscious revoltrevolt againstagainst Classicism.Classicism. Refounding the RepublicRepublic 6.6. Hoffman,Hoffman, La La caricature, caricature, P.p. 17.17. 1.1. BaseBase de de Datos Datos Marco Marco Cultural Cultural dede Ia la Protesta Protesta Popular Popular Venezolana Venezolana en en Iala 7.7. AntoineAntoine De De Baecque, Baecque, La La Caricature Caricature Revolutionnaire Revolutionnaire (Paris:(Paris: Presses Presses du du Era Neoliberal (Marco(Marco Cultural, 1999),1999), p. 359.359. CNRS, 1988), p. 13. 2. NationalNational Electoral Electoral Board, Board, "Resultados "Resultados electorales,"electorales," BoletlnBoletln lndra Indra del del 10 10 8.8. Highet,Highet, The The Anatomy Anatomy of of Satire, Satire, P. p. 18.18. de diciembrediciembre (Caracas: (Caracas: DirecciOnDirecci6n dede EstadIsticas Estadisticas Electorales,Electorales, 1998).1998). 9. JacintoJacinto Octavio Octavio PicOn, Pic6n, ApuntesApuntes para para Ia la historia historia de de Ia la caricatura caricatura (Madrid:(Madrid: 3. NationalNational Electoral Electoral Board, Board, "Resultados "Resultados electorales"electorales" (1999).(1999). Establecimiento TipograficoTipogr6fico Caflos,Carlos, 1877),1877), P.p. 7.7. 4. NationalNational Electoral Electoral Board, Board, "Resultados "Resultados electorales"electorales" (1999).(1999). 10. Hoffman, La caricature, p. 14. 5. NationalNational Electoral Electoral Board, Board, "Resultados "Resultados electorales"electorales" (1999).(1999). 11. Vovelle, Prologue to LaLa CaricatureCaricature Revolutionnaire,Revolutionnaire, p. p. 11.11. 6. NationalNational Electoral Electoral Board, Board, "Resultados "Resultados electorales"electorales" (1999).(1999). 12. Vovelle, Prologue to LaLa CaricatureCaricature Revolutionnaire,Revolutionnaire, p. p. 39.39. 7. TheThe results results of of five five polls polls were were published published in inEl ElUniversal Universal (Caracas), (Caracas), AprilApril 13. JoséJos6 JoaquinJoaquin FernBndezFernandez dede Lizardi, Defensa dede laIa libertadlibertad de imprenta 14,2000,14, 2000, PP.pp. 1-12.1-12. (Mexico: ImprentaImprenta dede JoséJose Maria BenaventeBenavente yy Socios, 1821).1821). 8. AngelaAngela Zago, Zago, La La rebeliOn rebelibn de de los los angeles angeles (Caracas: (Caracas: FuenteFuente Editores, Editores, 14. MarIaMaria deldel CarmenCarmen Reyna,Reyna, La prensaprensa censuradacensuradadurante durante elelsiglo siglo XIX 1992).1992), P.p. 14.14. (Mexico:(Mexico: InstitutoInstituto NacionalNacional AntropologlaAntropologia yy Historia,Historia, 1995),1995), p.p. 14.14. 9. AngelaAngela Zago, Zago, La La rebelibn rebeli6n de de los los angeles, angeles, pp. pp. 37-38.37-38. 15. James D. Cockroft, PrecursoresPrecursores intelectualesintelectuales dede Ia la RevolucibnRevoluci6n mexicana mexicana 10.10. ElEl Nacional (Caracas), June June 15, 15, 1999,1999, p.P. Al.Al. (Mexico:(Mexico: SigloXXl,SigloXXI, 1971),1971), P.p. 76. 11.11. ElEl Nacional,Nacional,July July 7, 1999, p. El.El. 16. lreneoIreneo Paz,Paz, Algunas campanascampahias (Mexico: FondoFondo dede CulturaCultura yy Economla,Economla, 12.12. InterviewInterview with HugoHugo ChavezChavez in ElElNacional, Nacional, February 12,12, 2000,2000, p.p. D1.Dl. 1997),1997), Vol. 1,1, P.p. 128.128. 13.13. ReportedReported byby Venezuela'sVenezuela's Central Bank inin ElEl Nacional,Nacional, December December 27,27, 17. Michel Melot,Melot, L'oeilL'oeil qui ntrit (Friburgo: (Friburgo: OfficeOffice dudu Livre,Livre, 1975),1975), P.p. 171.171. 1999, pp. D5-8. 18. E. H. Gombrich, "El"El arsenal arsenal dede Ia la caricature,"caricatura," in in Med Meditaciones ita ciones sabre sobre un un caballocaballo de de juguete y y otros otros ensayos ensayos sabre sobre Ia la teonlateoria del del arte arte (Madrid: (Madrid: Political PolarizationPolarization inin Chavez's Chavez's VenezuelaVenezuela Editorial Debate, 1988), p.p. 139.139. 1.1. El Nacional (Caracas), November November 23,23, 1999. 19. E. H. Gombrich, "El"El arsenal arsenal de Iala caricatura,"caricatura," P.p. 139.139. 2. SteveSteve Ellner, Ellner, "Recent "Recent VenezuelanVenezuelan PoliticalPolitical Studies:Studies: A ReturnReturn toto Third Third World Realities,"Realities," LatinLatin American American Research Research Review,Review, Vol. 32,32, No.No. 2 2 Vol X)(XIII,XXXIII, NoNo 66 MAY/JUNEMAY/JUNE 20002000 41