Hugo Chavez

Chavez's constitutional amendments were defeated two days ago by a very narrow margin. His reform proposed a bunch of amendments: lower voting age to 16, abolishing presidential term limits, reducing weekly work hours, making the banking system a federal priority, making the president in change of reserves, and expanding social security benefits to certain workers. I think the unlimited presidential re-election is a horrible proposal. This would not allow for change if the government became very corrupt. Prior to 2000, consecutive second terms were not part of the Venezuelan constitution. In Chavez's last re-election, he won with an overwhelming majority. The controversial nature of the referendum might have been caused by the 69 proposed amendments, which led to the defeat of the referendum. Chavez has claimed socialist reform but does it in an extreme manner and these new amendments would undermine any sense of a democracy in the country.