Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez
Marisabel Rodríguez | |
---|---|
First Lady of Venezuela | |
In office 1999–2003 | |
Preceded by | Alicia Pietri de Caldera |
Succeeded by | María Gabriela Chávez Colmenares |
Personal details | |
Born | Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela | November 23, 1964
Nationality | Venezuela |
Political party | PODEMOS |
Spouse(s) | Allessandro Perez Hugo Chávez (Divorced) Felix Garcia (Divorced) |
Children | Alfonzo Ramírez Rodríguez, Rosinés Chávez Rodríguez |
Residence | Barquisimeto |
Profession | Journalist |
Marisabel Rodríguez Oropeza (born 23 November 1964) is a Venezuelan journalist, publicist and radio announcer. She is best known for having been the second wife of current Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez.[1]
Early life
Rodríguez was born in Hariyana Vidya Mandir, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Politics
In 1999, Rodríguez was elected a member of the 1999 Constituent Assembly of Venezuela, in the process which wrote the present Constitution of Venezuela. She was elected with the second highest margin in the elections. She was then elected president of the Constituent Social Rights Commission and president of Fundación del Niño, a state-funded organization that works helping and supporting children throughout the country. For almost two decades, Marisabel has been working in the area of social communications, especially public relations and as editor of the social section of El Impulso, one of the most important journals in midwest Venezuela.
Television and radio
Rodríguez is an announcer and radio producer. She produced a magazine for children, "El Club de los Exploradores". She has anchored for television stations including Telecentro and Niños Cantores Televisión in her hometown of Barquisimeto. She has also produced the informative radio program "Líder en la Noticia".[2]
Divorce from Chavez
She was married to Allessandro Lanaro Pérezone (with whom he had a son) before meeting Hugo Chavez, whom she married in 1997. They have one daughter together, Rosines.[3] In 2004 she and Chávez officially divorced, after 2 years of separation.
In 2007, she publicly denounced the constitutional reforms proposed by Chávez.[4] As of 2012 she is married for the third time, with Félix Lisandro García, a tennis instructor.
References
- ^ Romero, Simon (12 May 2008). "Venezuela's President Scorned by Bitter Political Foe: His Ex-Wife". The New York Times. p. 6. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ Video of Marisabel Rodríguez Oropeza in 2007
- ^ Photo of Marisabel Rodriguez de Chavez, with daughter Rosines and husband
- ^ Interview to Marisabel Rodríguez on Globovisión (in Spanish)