[NYTr] Chavez Predicts Victory for Constitutional Reform Proposals

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Venezuelanalysis - August 26, 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2399


Chavez Urges Party for All-Out Campaign 
for Venezuelan Constitutional Reform

By Kiraz Janicke

Addressing thousands of members of the battalions of the new United
Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), packed into the Poliedro Stadium
in Caracas on Saturday, President Hugo Chavez called for an offensive
to guarantee the approval in the national referendum of his project of
constitutional reforms, which he says are necessary to guarantee the
transition to socialism in Venezuela.

?We are going to pulverize the opposition in the referendum,? he
declared, and ?I propose that after we approve them [the constitutional
reforms], the book of the Constitution is converted from blue to red,
the red book.?

Chavez also announced that after discussions with the Military High
Command, he was incorporating a number of changes into his proposal,
which would continue to recognize the National Guard, (to be renamed
the Bolivarian National Guard), after it had been argued that his
original proposal would allow for its abolition, through incorporation
into the other bodies of the Armed Forces. The Reserves would be
renamed as the Bolivarian National Militia, as opposed to the
Bolivarian Popular Militia in his original proposal. In addition he
said he was in discussion with some governors that had slight
differences over his proposed geographical redistribution of power.

Chavez said that although under the current constitution the National
Assembly could separate the reforms to be voted on article by article
in the referendum, he was calling for his proposal be voted on block as
it was an ?integral proposal? for the transition of Venezuela towards
socialism.

As he outlined his ideas for the construction of the new party, Chavez
argued the project of constitutional reform would provide, ?the fuel
for the political and ideological debate in the battalions [of the
PSUV].?

Acknowledging that of the 5.8 million people that had signed up to be
members of the PSUV only approximately 1.5 million have participated in
the socialist battalions, Chavez said, ?We were sure that when we
commenced the second stage of the process all these people that
registered were not going to participate, for logical reasons ? there
are people that work on Saturdays, others that have family commitments
and others that don?t have the sufficient level of commitment to be an
activist. It?s natural that this is so.?

In this sense he proposed to organize the new party in ?concentric
circles? of full members and non-full members. The different levels of
membership he assured did not imply a hierarchy, but reflected
different levels of time dedicated to the party, with different levels
of rights and obligations. ?Full members must have the time to carry
out the political tasks of the party and convert themselves into
disseminators and organizers, and they must be a revolutionary
example,? he continued.

In the internal life of the party Chavez called for ?irreverence in
discussion and loyalty in action.? He also announced the creation of a
Provisional Discipline Committee of the PSUV, headed by former
vice-president Diosdado Cabello, and referred to a case of an aspirant
whose conduct he said, was contrary to the formation of the PSUV.

According to confidential sources quoted in Diario VEA (August 26),
Deputy Francisco Ameliach, leader of the ?socialist block? in
parliament, was the aspirant who was called to report to the discipline
committee. Earlier in the week Ameliach had alluded to the possibility
of resurrecting the Movement for a Fifth Republic (MVR ? the largest
pro-Chavez party that dissolved earlier this year to become part of the
PSUV) for the regional elections of governors in 2008, if the formation
of the PSUV had not been completed. Chavez also affirmed that unlike
the MVR, all PSUV candidates for local, regional and national elections
would be democratically chosen from the base.

Venezuelan vice-president and coordinator of the National Promoters
Commission of the PSUV, Jorge Rodriguez, assured that the new party
would be formed by November. The elections for spokespeople to the
founding congress of the PSUV, which were postponed in August to
prioritize discussion of the constitutional reforms, have been
rescheduled for mid September, ?After we have elected them [the
spokespeople], we hope to install the Founding Congress in October, so
that by November we have completely formed the structure of the biggest
party in the history of America,? Rodriguez clarified.

Rodriguez also said that Chavez would be traveling throughout the
country to facilitate, ?the process [of formation] of the assemblies
and battalions and also in the discussion of the constitutional reform.?

Chavez also stressed the internationalist character of the PSUV and
called for a new International of left parties, saying ?2008 could be a
good time to convoke a meeting of left parties in Latin America to
organize a new International, an organization of parties and movements
of the left in Latin America and the Caribbean.?

"There is a resurgence of consciousness of the people and we must
continue building the movements and leaders of a new left, of a new
project," he added.
                              
                          ***

AP via Intl Herald Tribune - Aug 26, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/26/america/LA-GEN-Venezuela-Chavez.php


Chavez predicts crushing win in vote on constitutional reforms

The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez predicted on Saturday that
Venezuelan voters will overwhelmingly approve his proposal for
constitutional reforms, holding up the little red book he hopes will
soon become the nation's charter.

The reforms, which among various changes would allow Chavez to run for
re-election, were initially approved this week by the National
Assembly. Final approval is expected within two or three months, and
voters will then decide whether to approve the changes in a referendum.

"We're going to crush them in the referendum," Chavez told a coliseum
filled with cheering supporters.

"After we approve the reform ... I propose that the book would change
from blue to red," said the socialist president, holding up small
copies of both the old and new constitutions.

The reforms would extend presidential terms from six to seven years and
allow Chavez to run again in 2013. Government opponents have attacked
the reforms, saying they would weaken democracy by potentially allowing
Chavez to stay in power for decades to come.

Chavez denied that, saying the reforms would empower the public while
also deepening Venezuela's transition to socialism through economic
changes such as outlawing monopolies and recognizing collective
property in addition to private property. "The people are in charge
here!" he shouted to the crowd.

Chavez also sent greetings to his friend and mentor Fidel Castro,
calling for a round of applause for the Cuban leader and shouting "Long
live Fidel!"

The Venezuelan leader said one of his ministers asked him to speak
publicly a day earlier to address rumors that Castro had died.

"I'm not going to be clearing up rumors and more rumors everyday. Every
little while they say Fidel died," Chavez said. "For those who want to
Fidel to die, they are going to end up frustrated because Fidel Castro
will never die. He will always live on."

"From here, comrade, commander, the applause of the Venezuelan people!"
Chavez said, calling the 81-year-old a leader "of all the ages and all
the revolutionaries of our America."

Though much remains unknown about the state of Castro's health, Chavez
has frequently offered general updates since the Cuban leader announced
more than a year ago that he had undergone intestinal surgery and was
provisionally ceding power to his younger brother Raul.