José Vicente Rangel

José Vicente Rangel Vale (* July 10, 1929 in Caracas ) is a Venezuelan politician, lawyer and journalist. From May 2002 to January 2007, he was the successor of Diosdado Cabello Vice President of Venezuela.

Political beginnings

His political career began with 16 years in the Unión Democrática Republicana ( URD ) and intensified with his opposition to the coup that overthrew Rómulo Gallegos 1948. At this time he was a law student, but was arrested by the military authorities and expelled from Venezuela.

He settled in Chile, where he met the sculptor Ana Avalos and married. He continued his studies and eventually graduated in Spain. In 1958 he returned to the overthrow of the dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez in Venezuela, and was elected as a deputy of the URD in Congress. In addition, he worked as a journalist and lawyer.

In the years 1973, 1978 and 1983, he ran for the presidency as the candidate of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS ), Partido Comunista de Venezuela (PCV ) and the Movimiento Electoral del Pueblo (MEP).

Working as a journalist

In the 1990s, he left politics and devoted himself with columns, inter alia, " El Universal" or "Panorama" journalism. His most outstanding work was launched in 1998, his TV show " José Vicente Hoy " ( José Vicente Today), in which he commented on political events and the then presidential candidate Hugo Chavez supported.

Reign

Chávez appointed him on 2 February 1999 as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he held until February 2001. After that, he became minister of defense until he was finally appointed on 28 April 2002 as Vice President.

Author

José Vicente Rangel is the author of the book " Expediente Negro", which examines the violation of human rights in the 1960s in Venezuela.

Further works are " Tiempo de Verdades ", " Socialismo y Democracia " and "La Administración de Justicia en Venezuela ".