1989-1998
27 February – 5 March 1989
Caracazo uprising and massacre under President Carlos Andrés Pérez after years of IMF austerity measures.
4 February 1992
Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chávez leads failed coup against Pérez and is imprisoned.
26 March 1994
Chávez freed from prison.
6 December 1998
Chávez elected President on anti-poverty, anti-corruption platform. Holds referendums approving new Bolivarian Constitution, revamps courts and congress.
2000-2001
30 July 2000
Chávez convincingly wins six-year term as President.
13 November 2001
Decrees 49 economic laws, ranging from oil to agriculture, using the enabling law passed by the pro-Chávez legislature.
10 December
The corrupt Venezuelan Workers’ Confederation (CTV) and Fedecámaras (Venezuelan businesses’ federation) stage a lockout.
2002
25 February
Chávez appoints new directors to PDVSA, the state oil company.
9 April
CTV and Fedecámaras declare a lockout to cause maximum disruption; there are plans to organise a coup against Chávez.
11 April
Opposition and Chávez supporters organise demonstrations. Thirteen die in clashes and 100 wounded. Opposition media campaign blames Chávez supporters and urges his removal. Right-wing military chiefs backed by Washington stage a coup against Chávez.
12 April
Pedro Carmona, a wealthy businessman, is installed as President. Chávez refuses to resign and is taken to a secret location. National Assembly dissolved.
13 April
The masses take to the streets and the coup collapses ignominiously.
11 August
The Supreme Court acquits four senior military officers who led the coup.
2003
December 2002 – January 2003
Bosses’ lockout to destabilise the country, but defeated by workers’ opposition.
5 April
New democratic trade union federation (UNT) formed.
2004
15 August 2004
Chávez wins national referendum on his Presidency; the Opposition are in disarray.
31 October
Bolivarian candidates win federal and local elections.
2005
19 January
Venepal, the paper company, is nationalised.
31 January
Chávez announces the need to transcend capitalism and build socialism.
18 July
Chávez calls for all closed businesses to be reopened under workers’ control.
2006-09
3 December 2006
Chávez wins a second term as President in a landslide victory on the basis of running for socialism.
7 March 2007
The new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) was proposed, with over 5 million joining its ranks. The party is established at its founding congress in March 2008.
26 April 2008
Chávez re-nationalises SIDOR, the giant steel-maker in Bolivar state. Again, he insisted that workers’ management should be introduced.
21 May 2009
At a meeting with worker representatives from iron, steel and aluminium factories in Bolivar state, Chávez announces the Plan Guayana Socialista, introducing elements of workers’ control and management.
20 November 2009
Chávez calls for a Fifth Socialist International. The initiative is smothered by the Stalinists and the Bolivarian bureaucracy.
2011
30 June
At a Cuban hospital, Chávez has a tumor removed. He announces his diagnosis on TV.
2012
20 October
Chávez gives his famous ‘Turn the Rudder’ (Golpe de Timón) speech live on air.
2013
5 March
Hugo Chávez dies from complications following an infection after a course of chemotherapy.