Preprint Venezuela - Hugo Chavez Rise to Power
He had multiple contacts with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Russia about Oil production and prices.
Its outrageous and confrontational rhetoric, which increases during times of internal instability, has consistently worked to unite its followers in support of his leadership; it portrays itself as a modern day Simon Bolívar It is this unquestionable support of the lower class of Venezuela that allowed him to survive the slow destruction of Venezuela's economy, internal strife and finally a coup attempt in 2002.
His internationally recognized victory in the August 2004 referendum certainly encouraged him. For this consummate narcissist, this victory would have been expected to have swelled his ego