Chavez gets green light for unlimited re-election (Roundup)

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Sunday clinched his long-sought right to stand for an unlimited number of terms in office, as more than 54 per cent of Venezuelan voters backed a constitutional change.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's followers celebrate in Caracas Venezuela, on 15 February 2009, the 'yes' victory in the national referendum, with the 54.36 per cent of the votes, which will decide to change the country's constitution that would allow Chavez to extend his period in office beyond the currently-mandated two terms, due to end in 2013. EPA/Prensa Miraflores / HANDOUTChavez's current term is set to end in 2013. 'Unless God disposes otherwise, unless the people dispose otherwise, this soldier is already a pre-candidate to hold the presidency of the republic 2013-2019,' Chavez told supporters after the results were made official. 'Now, the best is yet to come!' he claimed.' The proposal for a constitutional referendum to allow the unlimited re-election of the president passed with 54.4 per cent of the votes against 45.6 per cent, according to the first official report issued late Sunday by the country's electoral authorities. The opposition acknowledged its defeat, although its leaders stressed an 'unequal campaigning against a 'Goliath-like' rival and denounced an abuse of state power to favour Chavez. Student leader David Smolansky told reporters that the fight to take power away from Chavez is 'not a 100-metre race, but a marathon.' As she announced the results, National Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena called upon the winners to behave 'with dignity, with pride, with calm and above all with generosity' in their celebrations in a deeply divided country. Over 94 per cent of the ballots had been counted. Within minutes Chavez, accompanied by his daughters and grandchildren and wearing his trademark red shirt, appeared before thousands of supporters. From a balcony of the government palace in Caracas, he sang the national anthem as fireworks were set off around the city to celebrate what he called 'a truly historic victory.' 'Chavez will not leave!' his followers chanted in a classic slogan. Chavez, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of his rise to power earlier this month, said 'the truth has won over lies.' 'Perseverance has won,' he said. In December 2007, Chavez narrowly lost his first referendum effort to get such a proposal passed. Unlike then, the current proposal put forward the unlimited re-election not just of the president but also of governors and other elected officials. He had comments for the losing camp, and included them among those who are set to benefit from the constitutional reform. 'It is a victory for Venezuela, and they are part of Venezuela!' Chavez said. 'I hope everyone recognizes with dignity the victory of the people,' he said. The controversial Venezuelan president read out a message of congratulations from his mentor and friend, historic Cuban leader Fidel Castro. 'This victory is also yours, Fidel,' Chavez said. He refuted the fears of many who have criticized what they termed Chavez's efforts to perpetuate himself in power. 'Nobody can make himself perpetual. It is God that is perpetual, and the homeland must be perpetual,' he shouted. 'The Venezuelan homeland is either socialist or will never be perpetual.' Close to 17 million voters were registered to vote Sunday. No major incidents were reported on election day and the referendum was followed by many international observers, according to Venezuelan electoral authorities. However, the opposition denounced the use of state funds to favour the pro-government camp. After a landslide election victory in 1999, Chavez - who led a failed military coup in 1992 - has ridden a wave of popularity, particularly among Venezuela's poor. He quickly pushed the adoption of a new constitution and was inaugurated for the first of two terms in 2001. Chavez survived a coup that actually ousted him from power for a few hours in 2002, as well as a crippling two-month oil strike in 2002-03 that forced the oil-rich country to import petrol. He also faced up to a recall referendum in 2004, which he overwhelmingly won. In 2007, he was inaugurated for his second six-year term.