查韦斯直接参与过四次委内瑞拉大选：1998年他首次当选总统；2004年反对派掀起了罢免投票；2006年他获得连任；以及眼下的第四次。 查韦斯刚从癌症中恢复，委内瑞拉则处于深重的危机中，加拉加斯已经成为全世界最危险的城市。
Chávez has participated directly in four Venezuelan elections: in 1998, when he was elected for the first time; in 2004, when the opposition forced a recall vote; in 2006, when he was re-elected; and now, as he recovers from cancer and the country is in the midst of a huge public-safety crisis that has made Caracas one of the most dangerous cities in the world.