Venezuelan President Chavez personally wrote the revised Venezuelan constitution, which included a two term limit for president. He now regrets this and wants to [-]stay in power forever[/-] continue his reforms until complete.
Chavez proposed a constitutional reform via referendum in 12/07 to allow several changes in the constitution, with three major areas – education reform, a redefinition of private property (granting the state rights over personal property) and allowing the president to run for re-election indefinitely.
All the reforms were narrowly defeated (51-49%).
The venezuelan national assembly has now approved a new referendum – this time only covering the reelection of elected officials (aka term limits). The date was set earlier this week, along with the text for the new referendum.
I’ve done my best to translate, but it has been quite difficult. I’m a poor translator, but this is the most convoluted, obfuscating electoral wording I have ever witnessed. An amazing expression of the political fear of truth and simple talk. Our system and politicians shine by comparison.
The referendum question (my poor translation) of 12/2007
Chavez proposed a constitutional reform via referendum in 12/07 to allow several changes in the constitution, with three major areas – education reform, a redefinition of private property (granting the state rights over personal property) and allowing the president to run for re-election indefinitely.
All the reforms were narrowly defeated (51-49%).
The venezuelan national assembly has now approved a new referendum – this time only covering the reelection of elected officials (aka term limits). The date was set earlier this week, along with the text for the new referendum.
I’ve done my best to translate, but it has been quite difficult. I’m a poor translator, but this is the most convoluted, obfuscating electoral wording I have ever witnessed. An amazing expression of the political fear of truth and simple talk. Our system and politicians shine by comparison.
The referendum question (my poor translation) of 12/2007
The new, revised referendum question of 2/2009Do you approve of the constitutional reform, with all it’s sections, sub-sections, paragraphs, temporary and permanent measures and dispositions, as presented in two parts, supported by the national assembly, with public approval and based on the initiative by President Hugo Chavez.
Do you approve of the expansion of the political rights of venezuelans as considered in the ammendments 230, 160, 174, 192, and 162 of the Venezuelan Constitution as proposed by initiative of the national assembly to allow running for all publicly elected offices in such a way that the election be the exclusive expression of the people’s vote?