Hugo Chávez (died on 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician and military officer who was president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013.
Chávez is regarded as one of the most influential politicians in the modern history of Venezuela and Latin America. His 14-year presidency marked the start of the socialist "pink tide" sweeping Latin America. Chávez described his policies as anti-imperialist, being a prominent adversary of the United States's foreign policy as well as a vocal critic of neoliberalism.