CARACAS, Venezuela – OPPONENTS of President Hugo Chavez warned on Monday (Feb. 16) that he would become increasingly autocratic and authoritative after his weekend win in a Referendum that could allow him to stay in office for life.
According to Caribbean Net News, Chavez has already declared his intention to contest general elections in 2012. The move comes after his triumph in a constitutional amendment that eliminated presidential term limits, which had previously limited presidents to serving two consecutive terms.
Reports from Venezuela’s electoral office indicate that more than 11 million of the 17 million eligible voters participated in the Referendum. Fifty-four percent of voters supported the amendment whereas 45 percent were not in favour of it.
Although international observers have said the ballot was free and fair, the opposition has charged that there were alleged flaws. They have also criticised Chavez’s use of state-owned resources to campaign for the amendment.
With the vote, Venezuela is now the first Latin American country to adopt unlimited electoral terms. The proposed amendment was Chavez’s second bid to extend presidential term limits after a package of constitutional changes including the amendment was rejected in December 2007.
Pro-Chavez images dominated national television stations yesterday while patriotic songs and images were aired constantly on radio stations. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was the first international politician to offer formal congratulations to Chavez for the victory.
In his victory speech, the Venezuelan President promised to focus on reducing crime and regulating wasteful financial and government institutions.
“We have to fight the battle against crime with more intensity, with more effort and, above all, more results.
“We must revise everything we have done in previous years and we have to start rectifying, adjusting, strengthening. If we reinforce what we have already done, then starting next year, we will be in a much better position to open new horizons,” Chavez said.
Venezuela News