CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 21, 2007
Venezuela Moves To Extend Chavez's Rule
Congress Approves Constitutional Reforms That Would Allow President To Run For Re-Election In 2013
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Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets prior to deliver a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Fernando Llanas)
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After about six hours of debate, National Assembly President Cilia Flores said Chavez's proposed changes to the constitution, including the lifting of presidential term limits, received "majority approval."
Flores did not say how many of the assembly's 167 lawmakers voted for the reforms, saying only that they were approved on first reading with overwhelming support. Final approval is expected within two or three months, and the changes would have to be approved by a simple majority in a public referendum.
The National Assembly has been solidly pro-Chavez since the opposition boycotted a 2005 vote.
The reforms, if approved, would extend presidential terms from six to seven years and allow Chavez to run again in 2013.
Government opponents say the reforms will weaken democracy by permitting Chavez to become a lifelong leader like his ally Fidel Castro of Cuba. Chavez has said he could serve until 2021 or beyond, but only if the public continues to back him at the ballot box.
Chavez, a former paratooper who was re-elected by a wide margin in December on promises to steer the country toward socialism, says the changes will give Venezuelans greater decision-making power and aid the transfer of billions of dollars into social programs from the country's foreign reserves.
Ismael Garcia, one of the assembly's few dissidents, criticized pro-Chavez lawmakers for excluding opposition groups from the discussion, arguing that Venezuelans of all political leanings must be included in the debate before the proposed reforms are put to a national vote.
Garcia said issues "such as the economic path of a new society" must be discussed. "This isn't just any debate."
Garcia was a rare critical voice during the debate, in which lawmakers stood up one-by-one and to voice their support for the reforms.
Other reforms would create new types of property to be managed by cooperatives, give neighborhood-based "communal councils" administrative responsibilities usually reserved for elected officials and create "a popular militia" that would form part of the military. The workday would also be reduced to six hours.
Flores said government-friendly lawmakers have the right to approve the reforms without changing the proposal that Chavez presented last week. "We are not imposing anything," she told state television.
Earlier Tuesday, former Chavez mentor Luis Miquilena urged Venezuelans to reject the proposed constitutional changes, saying the president would use them to govern indefinitely.
Miquilena, who headed a popularly elected, pro-Chavez assembly that drafted Venezuela's existing constitution, called his former ally's new reform proposal "a constitutional fraud" aimed at giving him "perpetual power."
"The essential point of this reform is based on the idea of permitting Mr. Chavez to continue in power indefinitely," Miquilena told a news conference.
Miquilena, an 88-year-old former labor leader, once was commonly referred to as Chavez's closest adviser. But he quit his Cabinet in 2002 and has periodically criticized the president since then.
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The secrets of tennis legend 
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See all 32 CommentsMay you have the kind of transformation that will see the people benefit from their oil wealth to improve the quality of life for the masses of Venezuelans.
TERM LIMIT SHOULD ONLY BE FOR BAD LEADERS!
The people have the choice to reject Chavez; so there''s no problema.
Re: "Thank you for the link."
You are welcome.
Thank you!
The Bush regime tried to overthrow him in 2002, and insert a pro-business stooge, but he failed, because the Venezuelan people would not allow it.
May we one day find the courage and the wisdom to follow their example.
Viva Venezuela!
Posted by FeelFree1 at 03:02 AM : Aug 22, 2007
..........
FeelFree1
Thank you for the link.
First, yes I can imagine Bush trying to instill a coup in Venezuela. Bush IS a pro-business stooge, inserted in by the large corporations who run this country (but that''s not news to many of you reading this).
Second, I agree, I hope we all will have the courage to run the corporate bums/career politicians out of Washington D.C.
But that will take a massive revolution.....
....in the minds of millions of Americans who''s minds have not been challenged in many many many years.
In the process of building it now, it will be called "Elfa''s school of Music," and we will be on line in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, if you google "International Choir olympics", or the more recent name "International Choir Games", you can see their accomplishments since the year 2000 competition.
For anyone interested in Venezuela, there is a film available about the failed 2002 Bush regime coup attempt against Chavez that is truly inspirational and very exiting.
The people of Venezuela refused to cooperate with the corporate takeover of their country, and threw the bums out.
The film is called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", and it is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen.
Part 1 is here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=snEs06WfKEM
Chavez was democratically elected by the overwhelming majority of his countrymen, 3 times, he is a strong advocate of the Venezuelan Constitution, and the rule of law, and he has taken steps to share the natural wealth of Venezuela with the people of Venezuela, rather than with the greedy multinational oil pirates.
Can you imagine?
The Bush regime tried to overthrow him in 2002, and insert a pro-business stooge, but he failed, because the Venezuelan people would not allow it.
May we one day find the courage and the wisdom to follow their example.
Viva Venezuela!
Do you have a website for the volunteer work you are doing, regarding the multi-faith/multi-ethnic children''s choir that you oversee?
Please post it on this board so I can copy/paste and share it with my friends and colleagues. Thanks.
And if he succeeds, may he remain president as long as he does so.
Posted by brianbwb at 02:21 AM : Aug 22, 2007
............
I want equality and better treatment for all the people of the world, just as much as any other caring human being as you are brian.
My pessimism, however, prevents me from having high hopes for the people of Venezuela for one primary reason:
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Chavez may speak of good intentions, (and I hope he follows through with those intentions). But South America has not had a great history of dictators in the 20th century. By Chavez removing the term-limits clause in the Venezuelan constitution, it is just one of several steps he has taken in the past few years that all leads to eventual, absolute power.
Of course, the U.S. has supported, both financially and militarily, many brutal dictators throughout the past two centuries. All with the goal of furthering America''s interests. Since Chavez is not considered to be "friendly" to the U.S., I also fear that Bush (or some future administration) may cook up some reason to invade Venezuela to "restore democracy" in that country. In essence, merely to restore a different form of corruption, called "free-market capitalism" (as you''ve mentioned in your post).
I hope Chavez accomplishes at least some relief for the victims of imperialism, the poor Venezuelans who have suffered under the yoke of unregulated corrupt capitalism for generations.
And if he succeeds, may he remain president as long as he does so.
think before you vote DNC..
Bush must really envy Chavez. He''s like, "why can''t I be a dicktater for life?" Instead he''s just a limp *****. I mean lame duck.
now you tell me, is this chavez issue..is that an imagination??ITS REAL..and it is happening right under your liberal nose..
maybe you should try to think instead of trying to correct my spelling..
"Adolf Chavez is on the march!"
Adolf Bush won''t like that - this planets only big enough for one right wing fascist Nazi.
"of course the liberals are sticking with thier bumper sticker mentality..for the people of velenzuela..dont hold your breath..left winged liberals are know for dinning and kissing this dictator"
And right wing fascist Republicanazis are known for their support of an American dictator.
And apparently most right wing fascist Republicanazis can''t spell.
I guess liberals are better educated then their inbred right wing second cousins.
Then clowns like Chavez could be in charge, and very few, if anyone (in America), would care.
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