When I posted an article about Chavez with the title "Totalitarian Dictators in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones" I was castigated because Chavez was elected and thus did not meet the criteria. Unfortunately, I don't think the commenter got how short-sighted and narrow his/her (anonymous, of course) view was, I wonder if he/she gets it now?
The Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez has anointed himself president for life by proposing sweeping changes to the country's constitution.(via)
Setting out his plans for completing his socialist revolution in the oil-rich Latin American nation, he proposing radical constitutional reform which has at its centre indefinite re-election for himself.
In a rambling televised speech reminiscent of his close ally and friend Fidel Castro, Mr Chavez told the national assembly of 33 changes he plans to make to the constitution he introduced in 1999 which will cement his grip on power.
[...]
In the new constitution Mr Chavez, 54, scraps the maximum presidential incumbency of two six-year terms, to instead permit seven-year terms with indefinite re-election.
Probably not. I'm sure that he/she still buys this line:
As Mr Chavez's speech drew to a close he said: "I doubt there is any country on this planet with a democracy more alive than the one we enjoy in Venezuela today."The commenter certainly thought so in September.
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