IV.

Target of a Coup Attempt

In April 2002 military leaders forced Chávez from power in a coup d'état after at least 17 people were killed in a protest against his policies. The next day tens of thousands of people marched throughout the country to protest Chávez’s ouster. In response to the protests, the military returned Chávez to power less than three days after it had removed him. Chávez accused the Bush administration, which had extended recognition to the interim government, of supporting the coup.

Increasing social and political polarization in Venezuela followed Chávez’s return to power. A general strike that began in December 2002, with strong support from engineers and other white-collar workers at the state-owned oil monopoly, paralyzed the nation’s economy for nearly three months. When the devastating strike was finally lifted in February 2003, neither Chávez nor his political opponents could claim victory.