José Vicente Rangel
Encyclopedia
José Vicente Rangel Vale (born 10 July 1929 in Caracas
) is a Venezuela
n leftist politician. He ran for President three times in the 1970s and 1980s and later supported Hugo Chávez
, successively becoming Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Vice President in Chávez's government.
that overthrew President Rómulo Gallegos
in 1948. He was arrested by the military authorities and expelled from Venezuela. He took refuge in Chile
, where he met and married the sculptor Ana Ávalos.
He returned to Venezuela following the downfall of the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez
in 1958 and ran for, and was elected to, Congress
that same year, representing the Democratic Republican Union
(Unión Republicana Democrática, URD). In addition to his political activities, he exercised the legal profession, for which he had studied, and worked as a journalist
. He also made presidential bids on three occasions: in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1973
and Venezuelan presidential election, 1978
as candidate of MAS - Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement for Socialism
), and in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
as candidate of MEP - Movimiento Electoral del Pueblo.
, Panorama, El Informador, La Tarde, El Regional, 2001). In the 1960s he was editor of the weekly Qué Pasa en Venezuela (1960–67) and of the dailies La Razón and Clarín.
Rangel played a key role in the 1993 impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez
, being the first to publish (in November 1992) the corruption allegations which would ultimately be endorsed by the Supreme Court. On 20 May 1993, the Supreme Court
considered the accusation valid, and the National Congress removed Pérez from office. He was imprisoned and sentenced to two years of prison on May, 1994 for malversation of funds of the so-called secret fund.
He has a political opinion show on Televen
called "José Vicente Hoy", from which he supports Hugo Chávez
.
After a little more than a year as Minister of Defense, Rangel became Vice-President in May 2002, replacing Diosdado Cabello
. On 3 January 2007, Chávez announced that Rangel would be replaced as Vice President by Jorge Rodríguez
. Chávez said that the decision was "not easy", and that he regarded Rangel "with the same respect and affection as a son would a father", but did not explain the reasoning behind the decision. At the swearing in ceremony for the new cabinet on 8 January, Rangel said that he was leaving the government, but not the revolution. He and Rodríguez exchanged praise, with the latter saying that Rangel was the first person he had ever voted for, in the 1983 election.
Rangel is the author of Expediente Negro
, an investigation of human rights violations in Venezuela in the 1960s and 1970s. His son, José Vicente Rangel Ávalos
, has also been involved in Venezuela
n politics, having been mayor
of the Sucre District in Caracas.
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
) is a Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n leftist politician. He ran for President three times in the 1970s and 1980s and later supported Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
, successively becoming Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Vice President in Chávez's government.
Political activism
His political activism began with his active opposition of the military coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that overthrew President Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
in 1948. He was arrested by the military authorities and expelled from Venezuela. He took refuge in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, where he met and married the sculptor Ana Ávalos.
He returned to Venezuela following the downfall of the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
in 1958 and ran for, and was elected to, Congress
National Assembly of Venezuela
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government. It is a unicameral body made up of a variable number of members, who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote partly by direct election in state-based voting districts, and partly on a state-based...
that same year, representing the Democratic Republican Union
Democratic Republican Union
The Democratic Republican Union is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1945.When the party appeared on course to win the 1952 election for a constitutional assembly, dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez suspended the election...
(Unión Republicana Democrática, URD). In addition to his political activities, he exercised the legal profession, for which he had studied, and worked as a journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. He also made presidential bids on three occasions: in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1973
Venezuelan presidential election, 1973
General elections were held in Venezuela on 9 December 1973. The presidential elections were won by Carlos Andrés Pérez of Democratic Action, who received 48.7% of the vote, whilst his party won a majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate. Voter turnout was 96.5%.-President:-Congress:...
and Venezuelan presidential election, 1978
Venezuelan presidential election, 1978
General elections were held in Venezuela on 3 December 1978. The presidential elections were won by Luis Herrera Campins of Copei, who received 46.6% of the vote. Although Copei received more votes, Democratic Action won the most seats in the Chamber of Deputies, whilst the two parties won 21 seats...
as candidate of MAS - Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement for Socialism
Movement for Socialism (Venezuela)
Movement for Socialism is a center-left political party in Venezuela.-History:The Movement for Socialism is a social-democratic political party in Venezuela. MAS was founded in 1971 by a faction of the Communist Party of Venezuela, with a view to emphasising a socialist message...
), and in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
General elections were held in Venezuela on 4 December 1983. The presidential elections were won by Jaime Lusinchi of Democratic Action, who received 58.4% of the vote, whilst his party won a majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate. Voter turnout was 87.3%.-President:-Congress:...
as candidate of MEP - Movimiento Electoral del Pueblo.
Journalist
In 1990 Rangel re-entered journalism, contributing to a range of newspapers as a columnist (including El UniversalEl Universal (Caracas)
El Universal is a major Venezuelan newspaper, headquartered in Caracas with an average daily circulation of about 150,000. The online version carries news, politics, sports, economy and more....
, Panorama, El Informador, La Tarde, El Regional, 2001). In the 1960s he was editor of the weekly Qué Pasa en Venezuela (1960–67) and of the dailies La Razón and Clarín.
Rangel played a key role in the 1993 impeachment of President Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
, being the first to publish (in November 1992) the corruption allegations which would ultimately be endorsed by the Supreme Court. On 20 May 1993, the Supreme Court
Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela)
The Supreme Tribunal of Justice is the highest court of law in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and is the head of the judicial branch.The Supreme Tribunal may meet either in specialized chambers or in plenary session...
considered the accusation valid, and the National Congress removed Pérez from office. He was imprisoned and sentenced to two years of prison on May, 1994 for malversation of funds of the so-called secret fund.
He has a political opinion show on Televen
Televen
Televen is a private Venezuelan national television network headquartered on the Caracas neighborhood of Horizonte. For this reason it's also called Canal de Horizonte. Televen was inaugurated as the ‘’TELEVEN Corporation’’ on July 3 1988 by Omar Camero and Radioven, S.A...
called "José Vicente Hoy", from which he supports Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
.
Government of Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez chose Rangel to serve as his Minister of Foreign Affairs when he took office as President in February 1999. Rangel served in that position until early February 2001, when Chávez instead appointed him as Minister of Defence, replacing General Ismael Hurtado. Rangel was the first civilian to serve as Defense Minister in decades.After a little more than a year as Minister of Defense, Rangel became Vice-President in May 2002, replacing Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello Rondón is a Venezuelan politician. A former member of the armed forces, he was involved in Hugo Chávez's February 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt. He became a leading member of Chavez's Movimiento V República , and remains a leading member of the United Socialist Party of...
. On 3 January 2007, Chávez announced that Rangel would be replaced as Vice President by Jorge Rodríguez
Jorge Rodríguez (politician)
Dr. Jorge Rodríguez Gómez is a Venezuelan politician and psychiatrist who was Vice President of Venezuela from January 2007 to January 2008. He is currently the Mayor of the Libertador Municipality in Caracas....
. Chávez said that the decision was "not easy", and that he regarded Rangel "with the same respect and affection as a son would a father", but did not explain the reasoning behind the decision. At the swearing in ceremony for the new cabinet on 8 January, Rangel said that he was leaving the government, but not the revolution. He and Rodríguez exchanged praise, with the latter saying that Rangel was the first person he had ever voted for, in the 1983 election.
Rangel is the author of Expediente Negro
Expediente Negro
Expediente Negro is a non-fiction book written by José Vicente Rangel about the murders in the 1960s of Venezuelan campesinos .* José Vicente Rangel , Expediente Negro, Caracas: Editorial Fuentes...
, an investigation of human rights violations in Venezuela in the 1960s and 1970s. His son, José Vicente Rangel Ávalos
José Vicente Rangel Ávalos
José Vicente Rangel Ávalos is a Venezuelan politician, former mayor of Sucre Municipality in Caracas. He is the son of Venezuelan former vice president José Vicente Rangel Vale and Chilean sculptor Ana Avalos.-References:...
, has also been involved in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n politics, having been mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Sucre District in Caracas.
Books
- Expediente NegroExpediente NegroExpediente Negro is a non-fiction book written by José Vicente Rangel about the murders in the 1960s of Venezuelan campesinos .* José Vicente Rangel , Expediente Negro, Caracas: Editorial Fuentes...
, Caracas: Editorial Fuentes, 1972 - Tiempo de Verdades, Caracas: Ediciones Centauro, 1973 - a selection of Rangel's press contributions
- Rangel et al., Militares y política (una polėmica inconclusa), Caracas: Ediciones Centauro, 1976
- Seguridad, defensa, democracia: Un tema para cíviles y militares, Caracas: Ediciones Centauro, 1980
- Socialismo y Democracia
- La Administración de Justicia en Venezuela