Posted on 07/17/2007 2:12:40 AM PDT by jsh3180
A poll shows most Venezuelans reject the unlimited reelection of presidents, as they do a Cuban-style government.
Proposals for the unlimited reelection of President Hugo Chávez, the possibility of establishing a Cuba-like political system and the ''violent'' clash with Washington are rejected by most Venezuelans, according to a new poll unveiled Friday.
The poll by Hinterlaces, a Caracas think tank that carries out surveys and analysis for private clients, also showed that Chávez's popularity has dropped 13 points since November, from 52 percent to 39 percent.
Hinterlaces' figures indicated that the average Venezuelan is increasingly rejecting Chavismo's ideological agenda in key areas such as the rights of private property and the country's shift toward Cuban-style socialism.
''More than a revolution, what Venezuela is living is a process of democratic maturation and the remodeling of its political culture,'' said Oscar Schemel, president of Hinterlaces, which correctly predicted Chávez's landslide reelection in December.
The political interests of today's Venezuelans are ''the opposite of extremist speeches'' not only by Chávez, but also by his radical opposition, Schemel added.
He said Chávez's radical stances ''seem to run counter to the key ideas and meanings of the sociopolitical culture of Venezuela'' and are generating resistance among Venezuelans.
The latest Hinterlaces poll, which consulted 990 people in five major Venezuelan cities in May and June, showed the following results:
• 63 percent rejected unlimited presidential reelection.
• 47 percent opposed the establishment of socialism.
• 85 percent opposed Cuban-style socialism.
• 86 percent rejected the idea that ``to be rich is bad.''
• 87 percent supported private property.
• 75 percent rejected the ''violent and rude'' confrontation with Washington.
• 81 percent said the country needs new leaders.
Since his December reelection the leftist Chávez has stepped up his efforts to move Venezuela toward ''21st century socialism'' and pushed for a constitutional change to allow unlimited presidential reelection.
Hinterlaces first asked respondents whether they supported unlimited reelection in February, obtaining a 61 percent negative response. Other polling companies have obtained similar results.
The rejection of Chávez's ideological agenda shown in the polls ''has been consistent in the nine years of Chávez government,'' said Carlos Escalante, director of the Miami-based Inter-American Center for Political Management.
Escalante added, however, that he found it paradoxical that ``people don't want to look like Cuba, and prefer private property and keeping their freedom, yet each day the positive evaluation of Chávez remains high.''
The poll's release came one day after the pro-Chávez president of the national legislature, Cilia Florez, attacked what she called an attempt to ''manipulate the proposal for presidential reelection,'' saying it was not for indefinite reelection but rather ''continuous'' reelection.
''If a president has been running a country correctly and the people are satisfied with that rule, we cannot take away their opportunity to reelect that president,'' Florez said at a news conference.
Looks like they are flleing Chavismo with whatever money they can get out with.
Funny thing about dictators and polls — they just don’t care....
So less than half of the people definitely don't want Socialism?
That's a bad sign.
The poll results probably show a more democratic (in the true sense of the word) result than what would be had from a poll of Americans.
You know people’s education is deficient when most say they want socialism, and don’t realize all the other items in the poll they reject go along with it.
If they don’t believe to be rich is bad, and like their private property, what the heck do they think socialism is?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It has been my observation that pretty soon polls will show 99.9% support for Chavez.
Micheal Moore and the American media love it.
Same thing is happening in America with dims!!!!!!!!!!
LLS
That’s exactly what’s happening here in NJ. A month before the election, the property tax rebates arrive in the mail.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.