Rafael Caldera
54th President of Venezuela
In office March 11, 1969 – March 12, 1974
Preceded by	Raúl Leoni
Succeeded by	Carlos Andrés Pérez
60th President of Venezuela
In office February 2, 1994 – February 2, 1999
Preceded by	Ramón José Velásquez
Succeeded by	Hugo Chávez
Senator for life
In office March 12, 1974 – February 2, 1994
In office February 2, 1999 – December 20, 1999
Solicitor General of Venezuela
In office October 26, 1945 – April 13, 1946
Born	January 24, 1916 (1916-01-24) (age 92) San Felipe, Venezuela
Political party	Copei National Convergence
Spouse	Alicia Prieti Montemayor
Alma mater	Central University of Venezuela
Occupation	Lawyer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Signature

Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez (born January 24, 1916) was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999. List of Presidents of Venezuela José Antonio Páez (1830-1835) José María Vargas (1835-1837) Carlos Soublette (1837-1839) José Antonio Páez (1839-1843) Carlos Soublette (1843-1847) José Tadeo Monagas (1847-1851) José Gregorio Monagas (1851-1855) José Tadeo Monagas (1855-1858) Julián Castro (1858... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Raúl Leoni Otero (April 24, 1905 - July 5, 1972) was President of Venezuela from 1963 until 1968. ... Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez (born October 27, 1922), best known as CAP was President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. ... List of Presidents of Venezuela José Antonio Páez (1830-1835) José María Vargas (1835-1837) Carlos Soublette (1837-1839) José Antonio Páez (1839-1843) Carlos Soublette (1843-1847) José Tadeo Monagas (1847-1851) José Gregorio Monagas (1851-1855) José Tadeo Monagas (1855-1858) Julián Castro (1858... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Ramon Jose Velasquez (born 1916) was a Venezuelan political figure. ... Hugo Chavez in 1999, as President of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (born July 28, 1954) is the President of Venezuela. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... San Felipe is the capital of the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy. ... Copei - Social Christian Party of Venezuela (Copei, Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela) is a political party in Venezuela. ... The National Convergence (Convergencia Nacional ) is a political party in Venezuela. ... Alma mater is Latin for nourishing mother. It was used in ancient Rome as a title for the mother goddess, and in Medieval Christianity for the Virgin Mary. ... Universidad Central de Venezuela The Central University of Venezuela (or Universidad Central de Venezuela in Spanish) is a premier public university of Venezuela and is located in Caracas. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholic—from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1]—is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... List of Presidents of Venezuela José Antonio Páez (1830-1835) José María Vargas (1835-1837) Carlos Soublette (1837-1839) José Antonio Páez (1839-1843) Carlos Soublette (1843-1847) José Tadeo Monagas (1847-1851) José Gregorio Monagas (1851-1855) José Tadeo Monagas (1855-1858) Julián Castro (1858...

Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party. He first ran for president unsuccessfully in 1946 and tried again every time it was possible until finally succeeding in 1968, winning by a relatively scant 33,000 votes against a recently divided Acción Democrática party. When he was sworn into office in 1969, it marked the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another in Venezuela's history. During his first presidency, Caldera was able to pacify the country by granting an amnesty that allowed guerrilla fighters, who had been operating clandestinely for almost a decade, to reincorporate to society and participate in politics. Sociology (from Latin: socius, companion; and the suffix -ology, the study of, from Greek λόγος, lógos, knowledge [1]) is the systematic and scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social action, and culture[2]. Areas studied in sociology can range from the analysis of brief contacts between anonymous... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... Copei - Social Christian Party of Venezuela (Copei, Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela) is a political party in Venezuela. ... The Democratic Action(Acción Democrática or AD) is a Venezuelan social democratic political party. ...

In 1993, Caldera split from COPEI, the party he had founded, to form a new political party, Convergence, which, supported by a coalition of many small leftist parties (MAS, MEP, PCV) as well as some centre-right parties (URD, MIN), raised Caldera to the presidency in December 1993. This was a fatal blow to the traditional parties which, leaderless and demoralized, garnered few votes in the election. He won a very narrow victory in that year's presidential election. During his second presidential period, he pardoned Hugo Chávez, who would eventually succeed him in 1999. Copei - Social Christian Party of Venezuela (Copei, Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela) is a political party in Venezuela. ... The National Convergence (Convergencia Nacional ) is a political party in Venezuela. ... The Movement toward Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo, MAS) is a left-wing Bolivian party led by Evo Morales, founded in 1997. ... The Peoples Electoral Movement (Movimiento Electoral del Pueblo) is a left-wing political party in Venezuela. ... PCV logo Communist Party of Venezuela (in Spanish: Partido Comunista de Venezuela) a communist political party in Venezuela. ... Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (pronounced ) (born July 28, 1954) is the current President of Venezuela. ...

Family and education

Caldera Family in 1970

Rafael Caldera, was born in San Felipe, Yaracuy, were his parents Tomás Rafael Caldera Izaguirre and Rosa Sofía Rodriguez Rivero. Orphan from young age, was adopted by his aunt Maria Eva Rodriguez Rivero, who was married to lawyer Tomás Liscano^[1], becoming part of a wealthy Venezuelan Roman Catholic family. He married with Alicia Pietri de Caldera in 1941, with whom he has six children: Mireya, Juan José, Rafael Tomás, Alicia Helena, Cecilia, and Andrés Antonio Caldera Pietri. San Felipe is the capital of the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ...

Caldera studied elementary school in San Felipe 1921 - 1922, enters at San Ignacio school of the Society of Jesus in Caracas 1923 - 1925, in 1926 returns to Yaracuy studying at Padre Delgado school, and secondary education again in Caracas (San Ignacio school) 1927 - 1931, made his superior studies in this city, at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) 1931 - 1938, obtaining a doctorate in the Faculty of Right and Political Sciences, later was professor of sociology and law in several universities including the UCV, was a student leader, which took him to the political world. Seal of the Society of Jesus. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Universidad Central de Venezuela The Central University of Venezuela (or Universidad Central de Venezuela in Spanish) is a premier public university of Venezuela and is located in Caracas. ...

Between his educative curriculum, Caldera dominates languages like the French, English, Italian, something of German and Portuguese. Also is a leading student of XIX Century humanist and educator Andrés Bello and has authored multiple books on politics, literature and Christian Democracy, and member of the Venezuelan Academy of the Language. As such, one of his achievements is the acceptance of millardo ("milliard", 10 ⁹) by the Royal Spanish Academy in 1995 as an alternative to mil millones (in English: one billion). Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Andrés Bello (Caracas, Venezuela, November 11, 1781 - Santiago, Chile, October 15, 1865), Venezuelan humanist, poet, lawmaker, philosopher, educator and philologist, whose work constitutes an important part of Spanish American culture. ... Christian democracy is a diverse political ideology and movement. ... Milliard is a French-derived word meaning the number 1,000,000,000 (109; one thousand million; SI prefix giga). ... The Real Academia Española (Royal Spanish Academy or RAE) is the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. ...

Caldera has participated in educative and political circles, like the direction of the Venezuelan Institute of Labor rights (1958-1966) and the presidencies of the Venezuelan Association of Sociology (1958-1967), the Christian Democratic Organization of Latin America (1964-1968) and the World-wide Christian Democratic Union (1967-1968).^[2]

Political life

Foundation of several parties, and the beginning of COPEI

Caldera was secretary of the Venezuelan Catholic Youth. In 1936 he participated in the formation of the National Student Union, which on October 1, 1938 become the political party Electoral Action. This party later merged with the National Action Movement, legalized on June 2, 1942, being one of the groups that formed on January 13, 1946 the social Christian party COPEI, with Caldera being a founder. Caldera stood as COPEI's candidate in the 1947 presidential elections, being defeated by the Acción Democrática (AD) candidate, writer Rómulo Gallegos. Gallegos was overthrown a few months later by a military junta, headed by Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, who was later succeeded by the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez.^[3] is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Copei - Social Christian Party of Venezuela (Copei, Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela) is a political party in Venezuela. ... The Democratic Action(Acción Democrática or AD) is a Venezuelan social democratic political party. ... Rómulo Gallegos Freire (2 August 1884 – 4 April 1969) was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. ... Carlos Román Delgado Chalbaud Gómez (January 20, 1909 - November 13, 1950) was President of Venezuela 1948-1950. ... Marcos Pérez Jiménez Marcos Pérez Jiménez (April 25, 1914 – September 20, 2001) was president of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958. ...

Presidential candidate

Proclamation of Rafael Caldera, as candidate for the 1947 presidential elections

After the overthrow of Pérez Jiménez and the consequent constitution of a provisional government headed by Wolfgang Larrazábal, Caldera was elected Solicitor General of Venezuela, but left this position, to participate in the 1958 Presidential Elections, which were won by Rómulo Betancourt of Acción Democrática. Nevertheless, Caldera had much influence for through his party, which the third strongest political force in the country at the time. Together with Betancourt, Jóvito Villalba, leader and founder of Unión Republicana Democrática (URD), and other political leaders, he elaborated and signed the Punto Fijo Pact, (named after Caldera's house, which was the site chosen by the leaders to sign the document). Supporters of the pact claimed that it provided the basis of a democratic coexistence which would hold for the next 40 years, laying the foundations for principles such as free and transparent elections, respect for electoral results, the conformation of governments balances, with representation of independent political forces, and the application by those governments of a Common Minimum Program that guaranteed the democratic viability and the development of the country with the due internal consensus. Wolfgang Larrazábal was President of Venezuela 1958-1959. ... Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (February 22, 1908 – September 28, 1981), The Father of Venezuelan Democracy, was President of Venezuela from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1959 to 1964. ... The Democratic Action(Acción Democrática or AD) is a Venezuelan social democratic political party. ...

Caldera was COPEI's unsuccessful candidate for president in 1963. However, he won the 1969 elections, and was sworn in as president on March 11, 1969. It was the first time in Venezuela's 139 years of independence that an incumbent government peacefully surrendered power to an elected member of the opposition. However, COPEI still had a minority in the legislature.^[4] For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ...

First term as president

Caldera's first government emphasized the end of Betancourt doctrine, which denied Venezuelan diplomatic recognition to any regime, right or left, that came to power by military force. Caldera broke the isolation of Venezuela with the rest of Latin America, recognizing the military governments of the region, and made a policy in defense of the insular territories, and the Gulf of Venezuela, and also signed the Port of Spain Protocol with Guyana, which concerned the Guayana Esequiba. The president's economic policies were notable for the reinforcement of the power of the employer's association Fedecámaras, and the period of North American economic crisis, that also characterized the first term of Richard Nixon, with low oil prices, which caused the economic growth of Venezuela to stagnate. Caldera also presided over a period of pacification of the country, making a ceasefire with the left armed groups, which were then integrated into the political life, and legalising the Communist Party of Venezuela in spite of the opposition of Acción Democrática. Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Port of Spain, population 49,000 (2000), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the countrys second largest city by population, after San Fernando. ... Guayana Esequiba is the territory of Guyana claimed by Venezuela. ... Fundada en 1944, Fedecámaras nace con el objetivo principal de defender y promocionar la libre Empresa, defendiendo el desarrollo y la diversificación de la economía nacional, basado en el sistema de la empresa privada y de la libre iniciativa, dentro de un orden jurídico que provea... Nixon redirects here. ... PCV logo Communist Party of Venezuela (in Spanish: Partido Comunista de Venezuela) a communist political party in Venezuela. ...

Caldera also reformed the 1961 Constitution to remove a ban on election to public office for people who had been sentenced to more than three years in prison, which had been specifically designed to politically disqualify General Marcos Pérez Jiménez, by means of its retroactive application. Caldera closed the Industrial Technical School permanently, and the Central University of Venezuela for a period of two years, due to student protests against his government. On December 9, 1970, Rafael Caldera created the Great Marshal of Ayacucho Institute of National Higher Defence Studies (IAEDEN), in order to the development of a state security perspective, and contribute to the defence culture of the nation. Marcos Pérez Jiménez Marcos Pérez Jiménez (April 25, 1914 – September 20, 2001) was president of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958. ... Universidad Central de Venezuela The Central University of Venezuela (or Universidad Central de Venezuela in Spanish) is a premier public university of Venezuela and is located in Caracas. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Caldera, who raised the tax on the rent to the oil companies to 60 percent, initiated the construction of El Tablazo petrochemical complex, in Zulia state. He also inaugurated the Caracas Polyhedron, and the Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, and concluded the demarcation of borders with Brazil. Rafael Caldera ended his first term as president on March 12, 1974, and was replaced by Carlos Andrés Pérez, from Acción Democrática, who won the 1973 elections.^[5] Estado Zulia is one of the 23 states (estados) into which Venezuela is divided. ... Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez (born October 27, 1922), best known as CAP was President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. ... The Democratic Action(Acción Democrática or AD) is a Venezuelan social democratic political party. ...

Rafael Caldera was sworn in as President, on March 11, 1969

Rafael Caldera and Richard Nixon during a meeting a the White House in 1970

Nixon redirects here. ...

Pacification of Venezuela

In 1969, the new government inherited a country with active urban and rural guerrilla movements, bans on two important political parties and many political leaders imprisoned. From the beginning of Caldera's presidency, this practice is suspended and the constitutional guarantees are maintained. Guerilla may refer to Guerrilla warfare. ...

The government arrived with an attitude of ideological pluralism and dialogue across the political spectrum, entered into talks with the armed groups, legalized leftist parties and released jailed politicians, demanding only that they stay within Venezuelan law. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition...

As result from this effort, by the end of Caldera's presidency, for the first time in many years, no significant political organization in Venezuela plans to take control of the government by violent means. At the 1973 elections, leaders of the old guerrilla movements were elected as senators and deputies.^[6]

Political activity and leaving COPEI

Caldera spend ten years of constitutional period, of no immediate re-election, and stood as a candidate again in the 1983 Presidential Elections with COPEI support, being defeated by Jaime Lusinchi of Acción Democrática. In 1987 stood for the COPEI nomination for the 1988 presidential election, being defeated by Eduardo Fernández. In 1993 he decided to leave COPEI, and partcipated in the presidential elections of the same year with his new party, known as National Convergence, with the support of groups which had been his historical opponents, such as the left parties PCV, MAS and MEP. Jaime Lusinchi (born May 27, 1924) was a Venezuelan political figure. ... The National Convergence (Convergencia Nacional ) is a political party in Venezuela. ... PCV logo Communist Party of Venezuela (in Spanish: Partido Comunista de Venezuela) a communist political party in Venezuela. ... The Movement toward Socialism (Spanish: Movimiento al Socialismo, or MAS) is a social-democratic political party in Venezuela. ... The Peoples Electoral Movement (Movimiento Electoral del Pueblo) is a left-wing political party in Venezuela. ...

Caldera won his second term as president in February 1994 - a win with its roots in his speech to the National Congress on February 4, 1992, the date of the first coup d'etat against the second government of Carlos Andrés Pérez. In this speech Caldera said: is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Hugo Chávez meets with fellow conspirator Francisco Arias Cárdenas prior to the February 4, 1992 coup attempt. ... Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez (born October 27, 1922), best known as CAP was President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. ...

This phrase, implying his tacit support to the Caracazo in 1989, and opposition to the neoliberal economic reforms pursued by Pérez in his second term, mark the beginning of Caldera's return to the presidency for a second term. Caldera won with around 30% of the votes, followed very close by three other candidates, but the abstention rate was 39.84%.^[7] The caracazo or sacudón is the name given to the wave of protests, riots and looting that occurred on 27 February 1989 in the Venezuelan capital Caracas and surrounding towns. ...

Second term as president

In his second presidency, Caldera included politicians from other political backgrounds who supported his candidature in his cabinet, like some representatives of MAS party, Teodoro Petkoff at the Ministry of the Central Office of Coordination and Planning, and Pompeyo Márquez at the Border Ministry, as well as some independents in other ministries. In any case the support of the MAS and other parties were fundamental to approve some laws in the National Congress in his first years of government, due to his own party having few seats in Congress. On December 18, 1994 he inaugurated the Plaza Venezuela - El Valle section of the Caracas Metro which had been initiated by previous governments. In 1996, he received Pope John Paul II on his second visit to Venezuela, when he blessed the prisoners of the Catia Prison, on the west side of Caracas (After this visit, the building was demolished).^[8] On October 12, 1997 he received U.S. President Bill Clinton, in November of the same year Margarita Island hosted the Seventh Ibero-American Conference. In June 1998, the Inaugural meeting of the XXVIII General Assembly of the Organization of American States was held in Caracas.^[9] Teodoro Petkoff Teodoro Petkoff (born in Zulia State January 3, 1932) is a Venezuelan politician, ex-guerrilla, journalist and economist. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Caracas Metro (Spanish: Metro de Caracas) is a mass rapid transit system serving Caracas, Venezuela. ... Official papal image of John Paul II. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyła (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), is the current Pope — the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Puerto Cruz beach. ... Headquarters Washington, D.C. Official languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Membership 35 countries Leaders  -  Secretary General José Miguel Insulza (since 26 May 2005) Establishment  -  Charter first signed 30 April 1948 in effect 1 December 1951  Website http://www. ...

Economic Crisis

In the first year of his second presidency, Caldera was faced with a major financial crisis that began with the intervention of Banco Latino (Latino Bank), during the acting presidency of Ramón José Velásquez, continued with the intervention of more than ten banks, and culminated with the draining of deposits, by concept of financial aid granted by the government to the banks, it produced thousands of affected people and a serious imbalance in the Venezuelan economy. The confidence and credibility of Venezuelans and foreigners at the Financial institutions were affected seriously. More than seventy thousand medium and small companies went bust, fundamentally due to the Exchange rate regime imposed by the government, which made it difficult to obtain the currency to acquire Intermediate goods. The price of food, clothes and transport was raised without control, impoverishing a greater number of Venezuelans. Ramon Jose Velasquez (born 1916) was a Venezuelan political figure. ...

Caldera also had to handle a vertiginous inflationary spiral and a parallel reduction of the Forex reserves, employees generously for the support of the bolívar in front of the U.S. dollar. On June 27, announced the temporary suspension of some constitutional guarantees, fundamentally related to the private property and the free economic activity, to allow control of the exchange market, the banking system and prices by the State. The financial organizations in bankruptcy by the draining of deposits and the affected by speculative practices, went to be adjusted by the State, in fact the Central Bank of Venezuela announced the suspension of all its operations of transaction of dollars. These economic measures were tolerated by the mass media and the international community, but not by the Venezuelan people. ISO 4217 Code VEB User(s) Venezuela Inflation 16% Source The World Factbook, 2005 est. ... USD redirects here. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Banners of the international community at the United Nations in Geneva The term international community is a political phrase that can refer to either: All the lands represented within the United Nations. ...

Rafael Caldera and his predecessor Ramón José Velásquez

Caldera and Michel Camdessus

Caldera and Bill Clinton

Rafael Caldera at the 53rd Session of the U.N. General Assembly

Although Caldera promised during his campaign to never accept the help of the International Monetary Fund, his government had to make it, because of the economic crisis and the incapacity of management. The effect of the interventionist practice in the economy of Venezuela caused Caldera to announce the Agenda Venezuela (Venezuela Agenda) programme, which promised to restore the macroeconomic balance and to beat inflation. He applied measures labeled by his opponents as Neoliberal, in agreement with the recommendations of the IMF, that he had previously resisted. The Venezuelan currency (Bolívar) was devalued by 70%, the Exchange rate regime was imposed, fuel prices increased by 800%, liberalized the types of interest, was continued the process of privatization. This program was welcomed by the IMF, but not by the country. Demonstrations and disturbances among the Venezuelan population were frequent. Ramon Jose Velasquez (born 1916) was a Venezuelan political figure. ... Michel Camdessus (born May 1, 1933) was Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from January 16, 1987 to February 14, 2000. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... IMF redirects here. ... The term neoliberalism is used to describe a political-economic philosophy that had major implications for government policies beginning in the 1970s – and increasingly prominent since 1980 – that de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy, focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by encouraging free...

In 1997, a tripartite commission, consisting of representatives of industrialists, workers and the Government, assumed the reform of the regime of social benefits, and the deep revision of the Labour law. The tripartite commission creates a system of social benefits that anticipated, among other things, the annual payment and the cease of the labor performance, at the same time, five subsystems of social security with the purpose of improving the Government's activity, at the resolution of the basic problems of the Venezuelan workers.

Also during the second Caldera presidency, the process of Apertura Petrolera began with the purpose of increasing the involvement of the private sector, national and international, in the operation, exploration and refinement of petroleum and natural gas. The world-wide oil market crisis negatively influenced this process.

Due to differences with his coalition partners such as MAS, Caldera looked for the support of AD in Congress. Some AD members entered the Ministerial cabinet.^[10]

Amnesty to the 1992 coup participants

During the second Caldera presidency, the military figures involved in the 1992 coup were liberated, who grouped in the political party MVR, under the leadership of Hugo Chávez, with the hope of obtaining the support of left groups for his government to overcome his minority support in Congress. We can say that the government of Caldera laid the foundations for the ascent of Hugo Chávez to the Presidency. Caldera gained the presidential elections after leaving COPEI, creating a populist movement (National Convergence) with the support of the groups before mentioned. This period finally saw the defeat of Acción Democrática and COPEI, which had alternated in government for 35 years (from 1959 to 1994), and which now lost their influence on the Venezuelan political scene. The fall of the traditional parties and the movement initiated by Caldera, gave the bases to Chávez to initiate his own movement, which was crystallized with the legalization of the MVR, and his victory in the 1998 presidential elections.^[11] The Fifth Republic Movement (Spanish: Movimiento V [Quinta] República, MVR) is a left-wing political party in Venezuela which was founded by Hugo Chávez, the current President of Venezuela. ... Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (pronounced ) (born July 28, 1954) is the current President of Venezuela. ... The Democratic Action(Acción Democrática or AD) is a Venezuelan social democratic political party. ... Copei - Social Christian Party of Venezuela (Copei, Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela) is a political party in Venezuela. ... A presidential election was held in the Republic of Venezuela on 6 December 1998. ...

After politics

On February 2, 1999, Rafael Caldera concluded his second term as president, and was succeeded by Hugo Chávez. Although Caldera liberated Chávez from prison (in March 1994), the new president did not exclude him from criticisism in his inaugural speech. After the parliamentary elections of July 30, 2000, National Convergence remained with a single representative in the new unicameral National Assembly until 2005 (when the opposition boycotted the 2005 elections). is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The National Convergence (Convergencia Nacional ) is a political party in Venezuela. ...

In the first years of the 21st century, Caldera has suffered poor health due to his age, and has retired definitively of the political life of his country.^[12] 20XX redirects here. ...

Trivia

• Caldera is famous by his hairstyle, and for the use of Hair gel.
• During Rafael Caldera's first government, a new style of official communication starts, with the television program Habla el Presidente, where the head of the Venezuelan state informs about his projects and policies.
• In 1996, the astrologer José Bernardo Gómez, predicts the death of Caldera, and the non culmination of his period, later arrested by the Venezuelan Political Police (DISIP), this astrologer decides to abandon his career.
• During his second presidency, because of his age and unintelligible speeches, Caldera was imitated by many Venezuelan comedians, one of them Laureano Márquez.
• In 1967, Rafael Caldera had a height of 5 ft 8 in (1,77 m) and a weight of 176,3 pounds (80 kg).^[13]

“Haircut” redirects here. ... Hair gel Hair gel is a hairstyling product that is used to stiffen hair into a particular hairstyle. ... The Disip is the Venezuelan political police. ...

See also

• Venezuela
• Presidents of Venezuela

List of Presidents of Venezuela José Antonio Páez (1830-1835) José María Vargas (1835-1837) Carlos Soublette (1837-1839) José Antonio Páez (1839-1843) Carlos Soublette (1843-1847) José Tadeo Monagas (1847-1851) José Gregorio Monagas (1851-1855) José Tadeo Monagas (1855-1858) Julián Castro (1858...

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Rafael Caldera

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External links

• (Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Official biography.
• (Spanish) Rafael Caldera — Biography from National Convergence webpage.
• (Spanish) Speeches and Biography
• (Spanish) Extended bio by CIDOB Foundation