Venezuelan leader urges referendum campaign for unlimited terms
4/12/2008 16:23
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez yesterday asked his supporters to
immediately start campaigning for a referendum aimed at paving the way for
unlimited presidential terms.
Chavez has been seeking to stay in power to
continue his programs, which he considered have achieved results but have not
been completed.
The president said last Sunday he was directing his ruling
United Socialist party to seek a "constitutional amendment and reelection of the
president of the republic," adding he was "ready to govern through 2021."
In
December 2007, a referendum that sought to allow unlimited terms was not
approved.
Venezuela's constitution allows one consecutive re-election of the
president with a six-year term. The proposal on unlimited term will allow Chavez
to stay in power without time limit.
Chavez launched his campaign for the
referendum this week after last month's regional elections in which opposition
leaders won key states and the capital of Caracas while Chavez allies swept most
municipalities.
Chavez was first elected president in February 1999 and won a
second six-year term in 2006.
He has said that if a governor is good, he
should stay in power as long as the electors wish.
Xinhua
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