Lucas Rincón Romero

General Lucas Rincón Romero was the highest-ranking Venezuelan military officer[2] at the time of the 2002 coup d'état attempt against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. He announced in a television broadcast that Chávez had resigned, "se le solicitó al señor presidente la renuncia de su cargo, la cual aceptó." (The president was asked to resign his post, which he accepted.)[3] He was one of Chavez's most loyal military officers.[4]

Lucas Rincón
AllegianceVenezuelan Armed Forces
RankGeneral in Chief
Commands heldDefense Minister(April - July 2002),
Minister of Interior and Justice (2003-4)
Other workVenezuelan Ambassador to Portugal (2006)[1]

Chávez was returned to power within three days and there has since been debate as to whether the resignation, not known to exist in writing, was genuine.[5] Chávez said in a BBC interview in October 2005[6] that media reports that he had renounced his position were false. Rincón went on to become the Minister of Interior and Justice (January 2003[7] - September 2004).[8]

References
  1. BBC Mundo | Los protagonistas
  2. Trinkunas, Harold A. (May 2002). "Civil-Military Relations in Venezuela after 11 April: Beyond Repair?". Center for Contemporary Conflict. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  3. "Nuevo gobierno en Venezuela" (in Spanish). BBC. 2002-04-12. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  4. Nelson, Brian A. (2012). The silence and the scorpion : the coup against Chávez and the making of modern Venezuela. New York: Nation Books. p. 49. ISBN 1568586868.
  5. Palast, Greg (2002-04-17). "Don't believe everything you read in the papers about Venezuela". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  6. "Talking Point - Interview" (RealMedia). BBC News. 2005-10-23. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  7. VENews web site, 21 January 2003, Venezuela: Ex-army chief says appointment of new interior minister "immoral"
  8. Radio Nacional de Venezuela, Caracas, 25 August 2004, Venezuela's Chavez vows to forge ahead with "Bolivarian Revolution"


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