Adán Chávez

Who is Adán Chávez?

Adán Chávez Frías is the governor of Barinas state in Venezuela, and has held a number of important posts, including Minister of Education. He is the elder brother of late president Hugo Chávez and of the mayor of Sabaneta, Barinas, Anibal José Chávez Frías. He has been described as an ultra-leftist.

Adán studied at the University of the Andes. He was involved with pro-guerrilla groups before Hugo. After Hugo was elected president, he appointed Adán ambassador to Cuba. In August 2006, Adán became Presidential Secretary, replacing Delcy Rodríguez who reportedly disagreed with Hugo Chávez during his international tour. The Charlotte Observer reports that the author of several books on Chávez, Alberto Garrido, argued: "A much more hard-line phase [of Chávez rule] is beginning and Chávez needs a reliable and radical team around him." In January 2007, Hugo appointed Adán Minister of Education. In 2008, he was elected Governor of Barinas, as the United Socialist Party of Venezuela candidate, replacing his father Hugo de los Reyes Chávez.