Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
February 15, 2009

Venezuela Votes on Lifting Term Limits for Chavez
-------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=224E9EA:A6F02AD83191E160473820A8B6E23EAC21A4E82C900CD027&
 
President Chavez says passage of referendum is vital to allow him to
transform the country into a socialist state 
Venezuelans are voting on a proposal to end term limits for elected
officials, which would allow President Hugo Chavez to continue seeking
re-election. Voters wait in line outside a polling station in Caracas,
Sunday, 15 Feb. 2009More than 16 million people are eligible to cast
ballots on the measure that would end term limits for elected officials.
Some residents awoke early Sunday to the sound of fireworks and recorded
music, calling voters to polling stations. President Chavez has called
for the vote, saying he needs more time to finish his socialist-inspired
revolution. Under the existing laws, he must leave office when his
second term ends in 2013.Late Saturday, the president assured voters
that his government would honor the results of the ballot. And he
rejected criticism from opposition leaders and foreign groups, who have
said the proposed amendment is an attempt to cling to power. He said
foreign capitalists are afraid that his project in Venezuela will
continue to succeed as it has during the past 10 years. Voters defeated
a similar measure on term limits in 2007, when they rejected a broad
package of constitutional reforms. After casting her ballot in Caracas,
school teacher Maria Alejandra Fernandez said she opposed the measure.
She said having one person in power too long damages the country.
Elected officials should serve fixed terms, as the country has always
done. Election officials have agreed to hold voting stations open two
hours later than in previous elections, in an effort to ensure all
voters have cast ballots. 


.