Maduro announces legislation for Chávez' rule until 2030

The new National Assembly (AN) to be inaugurated next January with total dominance of government followers will take steps for President Hugo Chávez to rule until 2030, AN president Nicolás Maduro reported, as quoted by DPA.

Maduro submitted the priorities of the new legislative term during a ceremony where Caracas incoming deputies were proclaimed. The congresspersons were chosen during the elections last Sunday where the opposition did not run.

The senior official anticipated enactment of laws "for people and with people" and noted that the new AN will work for consolidation of the Bolivarian revolution.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2005/12/06/en_pol_art_06A641283.shtml

Chavez is not a dictator, but anyone who tries to get an automatic 25-year term is taking on one aspect of becoming one.

Why so much time? Any country's leadership must have new blood once in a while, and I'm sure there are lots of fine and prepared men and women in Chávez's party that can continue his legacy.

It is also bad news that they have such a big majority in Congress... opposition is ESSENTIAL in any democratic system to keep things in check, even if they are just a few right wing nuts.

I do not recall Chávez asking the opposition to boycott.

They want this image, of an authoritarian dictator with no viable opposition, and he does not.

If they had remained they would have been crushed, democratically, while this way they can pretend what happened was illegitimate and should be thrown out.

I agree, the fact that they got out of the elections helps them to portrait Chavez as a dictator, but it was stupid of them too because they now have absolutely no voice or vote. With at least a few seats in Congress they might have had a better chance to create a viable opposition.

I don't like most of the opposition, and certainly not the traditional COPEI and AD parties, but some sort of moderate and non-corrupt alternative to Chávez must come out, for the sake of Chávez's own bolivarian revolution.

Seems more of a dictatorship to me. I hope Chavez will denounce this.

Venezuela's parliament plans legislation to extend Chavez term till 2030

New deputies elected to Venezuela's National Assembly, to be sworn in January, will legislate to keep President Hugo Chavez in office until 2030, National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday.

The legislation would be revolutionary and would ensure that Chavez remains in power not just till 2021, but till 2030, Maduro said at a ceremony celebrating the victory of pro-government deputies in Sunday's elections.

He said the new parliament also planned to pass several laws that are "for the people and with the people."

"One cycle of the Assembly has completed and another one has begun which will speed the revolution: of changes made in favor of the people," Maduro said. "The main contribution of this new assembly will be to consolidate the revolution."

http://english.people.com.cn/200512/07/eng20051207_226299.html

First, it may not pass constitutional muster, the Bolivarian Constitution of 2000 has a provision for the president to only be able to serve two terms. Second, given Chavez's own preferences, I doubt, even if they modified the constitution, or the law passes constitutional muster, that Chavez will even run again after 2012, if he refuses, that could be interesting.

Currently a max of two six year terms. If people want to keep electing the man, I suppose that's their business. I mean, wouldn't y'all rather have Big Dog right now?

Thought so.

The Big Dawg was a great President, but eight years is enough. I wish one of our other elected Presidents were actually President: Al Gore or John Kerry.

I found others and the legislaton regards lifting the two term limit on presidents. Still, not a good sign though as South America has had more than a few presidents "reelected" on a regular basis for years and years. In countries that have had a history of dictatorships, term limits are a good thing.