MEXICO CITY, February 10 (RIA Novosti) - More than
140,000 military personnel will keep order in Venezuela during
Sunday's national referendum on changing the country's
constitution, a top army officer said on Monday.
Major General Jesus Gonzalez also noted that there would
be tens of thousands of policemen on duty across the country
during the voting. President Hugo Chavez has proposed changing
the wording of the Constitution from "the president may be
reelected only once" to simply "the president may be reelected"
before his second term ends in 2012.
"I promise that we will do everything possible so that the
national referendum occurs without incident and in an orderly
fashion," Gonzalez said during a televised interview.
Thousands of people are expected to join opposition
demonstrations across Venezuela to protest against the
constitutional amendment. The opposition says changes to the
Constitution would alter the country's democratic principles
and "eternalize" Chavez's power as president.
Chavez's 21st Century Socialism Party will also be holding
rallies in the capital, Caracas, and other major cities.
Chavez's backers argue the amendment would expand the political
rights of the people.
Over 50% of voters rejected a similar proposal as part of
a package of constitutional amendments in a referendum in
December 2007.
The global financial crisis has started to squeeze
important social programs central to Chavez's plans for the
country, and international observers are skeptical as to
whether the latest move by the president to hold onto power
indefinitely will be successful.
With oil sales making up 95% of Venezuela's state revenues, the
drop in global oil prices to around $40 per barrel from
mid-2008 highs of $147 will seriously affect the Latin American
country's budget, which is based on oil prices of $60 per
barrel.
News
