VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports: Datanalisis director, Luis Vicente Leon says 53% of Venezuelans reject President Chavez' constitutional amendment proposal to abolish term-limits for the presidency. The survey contradicts another survey released by a company owned by Bolivarian leader and former minister, Nelson Merentes and results indicated exactly the opposite. According to Leon, there will be more than 53% voting against the amendment and those voting in favor of the amendment are between 37 to 38%.
National Assembly (AN) president, Cilia Flores has maintained her House power base by being re-elected to the same post for the next parliamentary period. Saul Ortega and Jose Albornoz have also been ratified in their posts as deputy vice presidents. The proposal forwarded by Deputy Mario Isea was accepted by the Assembly on the basis of the board's performance during 2008.
President Chavez has announced the continuity of the job stability decree for another year, meaning that workers cannot be sacked, laid off work or transferred without a valid reason. The decree was introduced in December 2007 and the continuity decision has received the support of the majority of trade unions. The government insists that it is part of its plan to guarantee the right to work and protection against unemployment.
President Chavez has called on Israel to cease fire in the Gaza Strip. The President made the plea while attending an event organized by the Simon Bolivar campaign command directing the government's constitutional amendment referendum campaign. Chavez says his solidarity goes out the Palestine people suffering a real massacre and under bombardment every 15 minutes. Chavez brands the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip a land invasion, aided and abetted by a United States administration that has only a couple of days left in power. Venezuela is currently organizing humanitarian aid, despite domestic opposition, Chavez reveals, and he is already in contact with friendly governments in the Middle East and humanitarian organizations to find how Venezuela can help. Several pro-government organizations are calling on the President to expel the Israeli Ambassador.
Speaking at a political act of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), President Chavez has proposed to extend the right to unrestricted running to all elected positions, such as state governor, mayor and deputies. Everybody in public office should have the same rights, the President argues, and it will depend on the outcome of the constitutional amendment referendum. The referendum itself, Chavez claims, will a rupture point with the old-style democracy. "What we are really proposing is a rupture with the old democratic model called the classical liberal model." However, he hastens to add, re-election will depend on the positive administration and record of each elected official and a decision on the part of the PSUV.
It would appear that the National Assembly (AN) has adopted in the President's proposal. AN Deputy, Pastora Medina contends that although the proposal appears coherent, namely to abolish term-limits for all elected officials, the decision could be a strategy against massive rejection of the original proposal regarding presidential term-limits. Medina claims that the situation in the country has brought about a rejection of abolishing presidential term-limits, which in turn has generated a change in the government's political strategy. The deputy also criticizes the fact that the National Assembly has been unable to discuss the current state of violence in barrios and violence towards women. The only law that has been debated in Parliament, she quips, is the anti-kidnapping law.
Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), subsidiary Citgo has announced the suspension of its cheap heating oil program for low-income families in the USA. The Boston-based Citizens Energy organization that runs initiative made the announcement saying that all its social programs are under assessment because of the drop in oil prices and effects of the world economic crisis. However, the organization run by Joseph Kennedy II announces that it will continue to do all it can to provide people on its list with cheap oil. Citgo has confirmed the suspension but has not added any commentary or clarification regarding the future of other such initiatives in other parts of the USA.
Commenting on the President's proposal to extend term-limits for all elected posts in Venezuela, Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, Alejandro Fleming says the proposal puts Venezuela on the same wavelength as Europe. In Europe, the Minister maintains, there are no limits for a person in public office to put him/herself forward more than once. In Latin America, Fleming states, limits on re-election were enforced to favor the establishment, which is no more than a concentration of privileges for those exercising economic power and thereby blocking any transformation of their countries.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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