Posted on 02/19/2006 6:01:26 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday he may seek to lift constitutionally mandated presidential term limits if opposition parties boycott the upcoming December presidential elections.
"I might sign a decree calling for a popular referendum -- do you agree that Chavez should run for a third term in 2013?" Chavez said during his weekly Sunday broadcast. "It's not a firm decision, it's something I'm thinking about."
Chavez was first elected in 1998 and again in 2000 after he led a move to rewrite the country's constitution. He is up for re-election in December, and has accused the opposition and the U.S. government of seeking to disrupt the poll.
Opposition parties boycotted parliamentary elections last December on allegations of electoral authority bias, allowing Chavez's allies to win all the legislature's seats.
"If the opposition tries to pull the same stunt of everyone pulling out (of the vote) ... that might strengthen this idea," Chavez said.
Venezuela's fractured opposition parties still have not united behind a possible candidate to face Chavez in December.
Many opposition leaders advocated abstention after Chavez won an overwhelming victory in a recall referendum on his rule in 2004. Chavez's critics alleged he won the vote through fraud, an accusation not backed by international election monitors.
The former soldier, who led a failed coup attempt in 1992, has won the support of millions who have benefited from a multi-billion dollar social investment campaign that has provided basic services like free health care and education.
He has also appealed to nationalist sentiment by promising to end U.S. influence over Venezuela and increased ties with other Latin American nations.
But Chavez's critics accuse him of concentrating power and seeking to remain in office indefinitely. The constitutional changes he promoted in 1999 eliminated Venezuela's traditional ban on immediate reelection, and increased the presidential term from five to six years.
Chavez last year opposed a move by one of his allies to end term limits, insisting he did not have any intention of remaining in the presidency permanently.
He said the current debate was meant to teach the opposition "a lesson about true politics, so they'll stop being so ridiculous."
if you are going to be a dictator, you can't have term limits!
Chavez can extend his stay indefinitely...but he won't last more than 3-5 years without being killed or exiled.
Now why does this NOT suprise me?
Works for Castro...
And I have no doubt that Jimmy Carter will be there to "validate" that 100% of the people want Chavez to be president for life.
Amen! Visions of Mussolini hanging by a meat hook leap to mind.
"This is a legitimate act"
-Jimmuh Cahtuh
I can't wait to hear the excuses on DU from the folks there who have their noses up Chavez's butt;
'It will take him decades to undo the damage that has been caused by evil imperialists...'
'This is to reassure the people that he will stay to help them as long as it takes...he love them, you know...'
'Until he can guarantee that future elections will not be compromised by US meddling...'
Bla bla bla.
It's Bush's fault, bla bla bla.
I dont doubt for a minute he will do whatever he has to in order to stay in power. His intention is to rule all of South America and the Carribean.
He is insane.
*barf*
Calling yourself "President" doesn't mean you're fairly elected--just look at "President" Putin.
Another President for Life.
They cry imperialism when the GOP is in power and relax when the jackass party takes over.
Chavez will be there another 30 years at least.
I read the first line on Noam's article...and stopped.
Chavez is NOT giving heating oil FREE to the poor in America...I was on a thread yesterday...and there was a link the showed the deal...and it is a 25 year deal, at 1% interest...for 40%...the 60% price is due upon delivery...
Yeah...Chavez is a real philanthropist.
I read that Chavez systematically had everyone fired from any Government job or with the Oil industry that signed the recall petition against him. Jimmy Carter still validated his fraudulent election.
He has the appearance of a middle-age man approaching onset of hardening of the arteries. Either that or he will bust a vein laughing at his own jokes.
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