First, I apologize for my bad English and all that.
Chavez after the failed coup attempt, in his political campaign acted as an equal to the people, an ordinary person that you would find in a market making purchases, remember that the Venezuelan presidency maintained a bipartisan between Acción Democratica and Copei that They brought with them several economic defeats (the best known on Black Friday 1983 at the hands of Luis Herrera Campins), all these factors made a dent in Venezuelan society giving way to the election of Chavez as the only option to get out of these politicians and their defeats, that was the grave mistake.
The people allowed themselves to fall in love with the charismatic attitude of Chavez, his pupolist discourses that were only creating that division among Venezuelans, little by little it was much more evident with his reforms to the constitution to perpetuate himself in power.
There are videos of interviews called the three lies of Chavez before seizing power and these were (1- He assured that he would hand over the presidency in 5 years 2- That no company would be nationalized 3- And that would not take away private TV channels)
But in this interview we saw the issue of constitutional reform coming and we simply decided to believe in his words that it was the biggest mistake that Venezuelan society has had.
Excellent comment @bearmaster!
You are totally right and I have seen that video as well as other similar ones were Chavez says things that are the complete opposite of what he actually ended up doing.
A complete manipulator and deceiver without doubt. And yet, there are still people who defend him.
The problem in Venezuela was to believe a strong government was the solution for the corruption of the past, rather than a bigger freedom for the people. The solution will always be more freedom, and I think that is the next step in Venezuela. To have a new government that respects individual freedom.