As Hugo Chávez prepares to mark a decade in power, there are growing doubts over his achievements and fears that a faltering economy may call time on his revolution. Here we look back at key events of the president’s reign.

Chávez at 10

November 27, 1998

Hugo Chávez greets supporters in Barquisimeto during his presidential campaign. He promised to open up political power to third parties while his opponents were organising campaigns to warn the public of an impending dictatorship. Various polls showed Chávez from 5 to 12 percentage points ahead of his closest rival, Henrique Salas Romer, a Yale-educated former state governor, running as an independent

February 2, 1999

President Chávez gives his first speech to the nation in the national Congress building moments after being sworn-in, almost seven years after his failed coup that brought him instant fame

February 2, 1999

The new president is sworn in by President of Congress Luis Davila, in front of outgoing President Rafael Caldera

November 15, 1999

Cuban President Fidel Castro shares a joke with Hugo Chávez and his wife Marisabel Chávez on their arrival in Havana. Mr Chávez called on the US to lift its decades-old embargo against Cuba

August 2, 2000

An elderly woman walks past soldiers in Merida, 422 miles southwest of Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. President Chávez sent more than 250 troops to Merida to quell disturbances that injured nine people, over disputed regional elections as several opposition candidates challenged the results

September 28, 2000

Leaders of Opec nations stand as they listen to the Venezuelan national anthem at the closing session of their second heads of government meeting in the oil cartel's 40 year history, taking place in Venezuela

March 8, 2002

Employees of Venezuela's state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) hold posters calling for "promotions based on merit, not politics" during a rally outside the company building in Caracas. PDVSA's top managers went on strike to protest against appointments by President Chávez

April 11, 2002

At least 10 people were killed and more than 80 injured as shooting broke out when PDVSA-organised demonstration clashed with pro-Chavez demonstrators

April 13, 2002

Several hundred angry supporters of Mr Chávez surrounded the presidential palace in Caracas to protest against his ousting and arrest in an attempted coup by Lucas Rincón, commander-in-chief of the Venezuelan armed forces

April 15, 2002

President Chávez holds up a copy of the Venezuelan constitution during a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. He was returned to power just two days after his ousting when loyalist military officers rebelled and tens of thousands of Venezuelans converged on the presidential palace to demand Chávez's return

December 5, 2002

Troops guard a state oil company office in Caracas. PDVSA management called a strike that lasted two months, disrupting refining operations, tanker loadings and oil shipments, in an attempt to force President Chávez out of office permanently

December 14, 2002

Opponents of President Chávez march through Caracas to demand his resignation after he rejected US calls for early elections. Mr Chávez, facing a protracted opposition strike that crippled the nation's vital oil industry and rattled markets, repeatedly dismissed opposition demands to step down and call for immediate elections

August 2, 2004

President Chávez's opponents posted signs encouraging people to vote in favour of a referendum to recall Chávez and force new presidential elections

August 14, 2004

A man walks past signs of support for President Chávez in Caracas ahead of the bitterly contested recall referendum

August 16, 2004

President Chávez and his children Hugo, Rosa Virginia and Maria Gabriela celebrate in Caracas after Mr Chávez won the recall referendum with more than 58 per cent of the votes

September 20, 2006

President Chávez addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, railing against US President George W. Bush and American imperialism

November 17, 2007

President Chávez joins the leaders of other Opec members states at a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

November 11, 2008

President Chávez waves to supporters during a rally in Caracas before Venezuela's municipal and regional elections

November 24, 2008

Candidates from President Chávez's United Socialist Party win 17 out of 22 states in gubernatorial elections seen as a key test for the leftist leader, but the opposition wins the capital

November 27, 2008

President Chávez and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev inspect the Russian frigate Admiral Chabanenko in Caracas during joint naval manoeuvres