Reply #5: Venezuela Ends Term Limits

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.alternet.org/audits/127927/venezuela_ends_term_limits/


Venezuelan voters have approved a referendum that ends term limits for the president and all other elected officials. Fifty-four percent of those who took part voted in favor of the measure February 15.

The Washington Post, in its colorful fashion, stated the matter like this: "President Hugo Chávez persuaded Venezuelans today to end term limits through a referendum that allows him to rule far into the 21st century to complete his socialist transformation of this oil-rich country."

Chávez is already 54 years old. If he rules for another 20 or 30 years, "far into the 21st century," he'll be older than John McCain and won't remember how many houses he owns.

The Post went on to say that "Chávez took office in 1999 and has since amassed overwhelming control over virtually every government institution." This statement is a gross exaggeration, but reporter Juan Forero probably had to skip lightly over the truth to meet a deadline. He also failed to state that the referendum ended term limits for all elected officials and is likely to turn the National Assembly into a geriatric ward.

With only one exception, the major newspapers in Caracas always go well beyond the timid Post when expressing their contempt for President Chávez. El Universal stated that 54.36 percent of the voters "endorsed President Hugo Chávez's proposal to amend the Constitution in order to establish endless reelection of all elected officials."