Chávez's first attempt at launching a political movement came in 1977, when he formed the "Ejército de Liberación del Pueblo de Venezuela", or "ELPV"—the "Liberation Army of the Venezuelan People". Years later, he recalled that the "ELPV"'s purpose was to "prepare ourselves in case something should happen" and that it was "an important pointer to the future". In 1978, dressed in his army fatigues, Chávez met then-presidential candidate José Vicente Rangel—who later became Chávez's vice-president—and subsequently aided him in affixing election materials in Maracay. Chávez risked expulsion from the military had his superiors found out about such leftist political activities. Under Venezuelan law at the time, military officers and other personnel were forbidden from involving themselves in political affairs of any sort. Moreover, engaging in such illicit activities while dressed in fatigues or in uniform was punishable by even harsher penalties.