The BBC reports:
Chavez seeks end to term limits
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has confirmed that he will try to change the law to allow him to remain in power indefinitely.
Under the current constitution, Mr Chavez will have to leave office at the end of his term in 2012.
But he says he wants to remain in power for as long as Venezuelans continue to support him.
The constitution is under review and Mr Chavez is expected to make changes to cement in law his socialist revolution.
‘People decide’
The details have so far been kept under wraps, but Mr Chavez has confirmed what many people expected – that he will be seeking to remain in power continuously.
“It will be the people who make the final decision about how long I stay,” he said on his weekly TV show Hello President.
He said this is something that happens in many European and Asian countries and that it should not be seen as a threat.
But opponents disagree. They are concerned that this could lead to abuse of power.
The new constitution will be put before parliament within the next 10 days.
Later this year, there will be a referendum allowing Venezuelans to decide whether to accept the changes.
Some time ago I speculated that Chavez sought “president-for-life” status, and that he’d never voluntarily leave the office — in marked contrast to freer democracies around the world.
If there were any remaining doubt, it’s gone now.
Chavez needed permission from the democrats to go after Bush.
The Democrats help create Chavez, and they can have him.
true Liberal; you should have read some of my old posts on the hb forum on chavez. That would have explained chavez’s position a long time ago.
You see; The democrats when they wish to convey a message to some one? They will usually pick some one who use to be high up in an Administration “Usually past Administrations”,
and the democrats choice for go between is for Latin America JIMMY CARTER.
NOT EVERYTHING IS IN DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT.
Once you understand the power players behind it all? The policy becomes better understood, and the politics behind it all.