November 19th, 2007
Venezuelans vote on Dec. 2 in a referendum on constitutional changes proposed by President Hugo Chavez that will scrap term limits. The polls show the virulently anti-U.S. Chavez will likely win with the backing of the nation’s poor, who support his oil-financed food and health subsidies. Yet pollsters say voters appear evenly split over Chavez’s reform package after a campaign hit by violent demonstrations. Opponents of the left-wing leader say they fear his reforms will allow him to be president for life while supporters say he is giving more political participation to the poor.
What impact do you think a victory for Chavez will have on Venezuela, the rest of Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy?
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2 comments so far
If you want to critisize Hugo Chavez, do so on legitimate grounds. In many EU countries you can be elected president/PM for as many times as you want, as long as the people want you in power. Americans are used to two terms and so they feel alienated. Don’t make this into such a big deal because it isn’t. Whoever doesn’t like Chavez, at least admit the real reasons why.
- Posted by PanI would have thought that Russia had more sense than to associate themselves with Chavez. He’s your typical despot, power hungry paranoid nut case. Any legitimate world leader would stay away from this nut case. It seems that Vladimir Puttin, does not care that he’s dealing with a psycho, to flex his muscles at us. How do we deal with these egomaniacs. I know, send them cases of Viagra.
- Posted by Arie BakkerArie Bakker