Profile Of Chavez As He Battles Cancer Setback

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez battles serious setback in his fight against cancer that threatens to end his 14-year rule. Chavez has been battling cancer since June of 2011.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - FEBRUARY 4, 1992) (VENEVISION) -  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday (March 5) battled worsening breathing problems as he suffered a "severe" new respiratory infection in a Caracasmilitary hospital. The new setback is threatening to end his tumultuous 14-year rule of the South American nation.

One of the most controversial leaders of the 21st century, Hugo Chavez strode onto the national stage in Venezuela as a paratrooper leading a coup attempt in 1992 against then-president Carlos Perez.The coup failed but it led Chavez to national prominence.

After a brief spell in prison, he was released to the cheers of thousands of supporters and went on to win the presidential elections in 1998 after preaching that the way to end poverty was to "give power to the poor."

Soon after his swearing-in, one of the new president's first acts was the passing of a revised constitution which helped launch Chavez's self-proclaimed socialist revolution inspired by 19th century Venezuelan independence leader, Simon Bolivar.

His populous message won him large support among the poor and residents ofCaracas' sprawling slums.

"The fundamental objective of the revolution is life and happiness for all the people and nobody will stop us from going down this path, nobody will take it away from us," Chavez said during a military parade.

Slowly, however, Chavez started to come under withering criticism from political foes, business and labour leaders, Catholic bishops and even dissident soldiers.

Three years into his presidency, Chavez was ousted in a short-lived coup and replaced as the country's leader by businessman Pedro Carmona, but supporters and loyal soldiers swept him back to power and he triumphantly returned just 48 hours later, declaring he was "still the king".

With his constant jibes at Washington and charismatic persona at home, Chavez quickly became one of the world's best known and controversial heads of state.

During his 14 years in power and with the inspiration of his friend and mentor, Cuba'sFidel Castro, Chavez increasingly took the OPEC nation down a radical path, nationalizing large swathes of the economy and running the government with a personalized, if not controversial style.

Opponents said he became an old-style Latin American "caudillo," or dictator, repressing critics, squandering the nation's oil wealth and ruining its economy.

Chavez was the most vocal world leader to support his friend and ally former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi even after NATO-backed rebels seized the country and captured and killed the deposed leader.

Chavez had cultivated an image of a robust, sports-loving leader. So while his sickness did give him a small sympathy bounce in opinion polls, it also dented the aura of invincibility he had built up during his years in power just as the country was preparing for presidential elections.

Chavez's populist style was his trademark, as was his strong language and epic speeches that often lasted hours and would drag on late into the night.

"Soldiers, we are going to swear here, in front of the sword of Bolivar," Chavez said.

The socialist leader won four presidential votes.

His cancer was detected in 2011. He announced it on state television and flew toHavana for treatment.

"They confirmed the existence of an abscessed tumour with the presence of cancerous cells," he said.

Across Venezuela, supporters held prayer meetings and rallies for him, which he soon felt well enough to attend.

While little was known of the details of his illness, he claimed he was beating cancer on his 57th birthday and vowed he would rule the country for decades to come.

"I have a plan and I propose to you that, with God's will and your will, I will govern here, from here to 2031," he said.

He resumed his famously hectic schedule, giving long speeches and hosting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Iranian Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Under Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also a fierce anti-U.S. ideologue, the two OPEC countries became close political and commercial allies.

But his recovery was short-lived and, in February of 2012, he sombrely told the nation that doctors had detected a new growth.

"They've detected a lesion in the same place where a tumour was extracted almost a year ago. It's a small lesion of about 2 centimetres in diameter, very clearly visible, which must be extracted. That lesion and that requires a new surgical operation, supposedly less complicated than the previous one. I am in good physical condition to face this new battle," he said.

As he left for medical treatment in Cuba, throngs of supporters filled the streets ofCaracas to wish him well.

He stood with his daughters at the airport, about to take off for Cuba, and bade farewell to the country - sounding as though he was already looking ahead to the legacy he would leave behind.

"They're thinking that Chavez is through. Chavez is not through. What's more and what I'd better tell you, when this body really gives out, Chavez will not be through, because I am no longer Chavez. Chavez is in the streets and has become the people, and has become a national essence, more than a feeling, a national body, national soul and national weapon to keep fighting for Venezuela," he said.

Despite the brave front he presented to his countrymen, Chavez's vulnerability could occasionally be seen as he struggled to come to grips with the devastating cancer.

On Holy Thursday, April 5, 2012, Chavez took a break from his radiation treatment to attend mass with his family in his hometown of Barinas.

As his parents and his brother Adan looked on, Chavez's voice cracked as he prayed, recollecting the great comfort he derived from their company.

"I was over there with my mother and my father, feeling their hands, the loving hand of my mother, the loving hand of my father. I remember feeling so many things.., " he prayed, "Life has been like a hurricane."

With state television cameras rolling, he begged God to spare his life, saying he still had work to do on behalf of his beloved Venezuela.

"All that one has lived hasn't been enough; that's what I feel. And I tell God, 'If what one has lived isn't enough, if I needed this-- welcome-- but give me life, even if it's a blazing life, a painful life, I don't care, give me your crown Christ, give it to me that I bleed. Give me your cross, a hundred crosses-- I'll carry them, but give me life because I have things left to do for these people and this fatherland. Don't take me yet."

Despite his illness, Chavez barrelled ahead with his presidential campaign, seeking a fourth term. He made routine appearances in the run-up to the election and on October 7 emerged, as he has in the past, to vote under the watchful eyes of the media and supporters. He cast his ballot, and hours later, came out onto the balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace to celebrate his victory. With his trademark showmanship, he brandished a replica of the sword of Simon Bolivar as he rallied his supporters to look toward the future.

But the future held more bleak news for Chavez. On December 8, 2012, he went on state TV to announce the cancer had returned.

"Unfortunately, in this exhaustive review it reappeared again, in the same area affected by malignant cells. We had to review the diagnostic, the evolution of the treatment, consult experts and it has been decided that it is necessary - it is absolutely necessary, absolutely essential - to undergo a new surgical operation," he said.

He told Venezuelans that he would return to Cuba and then, for the first time, named Vice President Nicolas Maduro as his official successor. Many viewed that move as a sign his illness could force him to step aside.

The next day, he boarded a plane bound for Cuba and vowed to return. In Havana, Cuban President Raul Castro was on the tarmac to greet him. The two leaders embraced and spoke. On February 15, the Venezuelan government showed off images of Chavez with his daughters in hospital.

Should the Venezuelan leader step down or die, an election would be held within 30 days and would probably pit Maduro against opposition leader, Henrique Capriles.