Home
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Community canteens fill an important gap in lives of the elderly
‘Mountains of gold and silver’ offer a relaxing getaway
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Venezuela decides if Chavez has future
Source: Agencies |
February 16, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
VENEZUELANS were divided as they voted yesterday in a referendum that could end term limits for all elected officials and allow President Hugo Chavez to stay in office as long as he wins elections.
Critics say removing term limits would distort democracy by enabling a president to stay in power for decades, while Chavez, first elected in 1998, said the proposed constitutional amendment would deepen democracy by giving voters more choice. He said Franklin Roosevelt was elected United States president four times.
"Ten years is nothing. I don't know what they're complaining about," he said.
When the polls opened at 6am, long lines had already formed at many voting stations. Pre-election polls show the race is tight.
Yira Guerra, 52, said that thanks to Chavez her two children have access to free higher education.
"My son has obtained a bachelor's degree," Guerra said proudly, adding that she fears such advances will be stilted under another leader.
Without a constitutional amendment, Chavez will have to leave office in 2013. He lost a broader referendum in December 2007 that also sought to abolish presidential term limits, and says he can try again if he loses this time.
Chavez says he needs the amendment to seek re-election in 2012 and complete Venezuela's transition to socialism.
Supporters of a "no" vote say a Chavez victory would remove the last remaining check on the president's power. Since the opposition boycotted the 2005 congressional elections, the Chavez-dominated National Assembly has packed The Supreme Court and National Elections Council with Chavez allies.
Critics say removing term limits would distort democracy by enabling a president to stay in power for decades, while Chavez, first elected in 1998, said the proposed constitutional amendment would deepen democracy by giving voters more choice. He said Franklin Roosevelt was elected United States president four times.
"Ten years is nothing. I don't know what they're complaining about," he said.
When the polls opened at 6am, long lines had already formed at many voting stations. Pre-election polls show the race is tight.
Yira Guerra, 52, said that thanks to Chavez her two children have access to free higher education.
"My son has obtained a bachelor's degree," Guerra said proudly, adding that she fears such advances will be stilted under another leader.
Without a constitutional amendment, Chavez will have to leave office in 2013. He lost a broader referendum in December 2007 that also sought to abolish presidential term limits, and says he can try again if he loses this time.
Chavez says he needs the amendment to seek re-election in 2012 and complete Venezuela's transition to socialism.
Supporters of a "no" vote say a Chavez victory would remove the last remaining check on the president's power. Since the opposition boycotted the 2005 congressional elections, the Chavez-dominated National Assembly has packed The Supreme Court and National Elections Council with Chavez allies.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
