Anti-terror policies threaten human rights: report

The president was previously allowed two consecutive terms (File)

CARACAS (Agencies)

President Hugo Chavez and his supporters celebrated victory Monday after Venezuelans voted to scrap term limits on elected posts, paving the way for the leftist leader to seek re-election in 2012 and beyond.

Chavez, a flamboyant and tireless campaigner, said he intended to stand for a third term in 2012 and promised to use the referendum victory to fight crime and corruption and consolidate socialism in a nation whose oil income has fallen abruptly.

"The doors of the future are wide open," Chavez boomed from the balcony of his Miraflores palace to cheering supporters late Sunday as fireworks lit up the sky.

" In 2012 there will be presidential elections for the 2013-2019 period and, unless God has planned something else, unless the people have planned something else, this soldier is now a pre-candidate for the Republic's presidency " President Hugo Chavez "In 2012 there will be presidential elections for the 2013-2019 period and, unless God has planned something else, unless the people have planned something else, this soldier is now a pre-candidate for the Republic's presidency," the former paratrooper said. Popular for spending freely on clinics, schools and food hand-outs in city slums and remote villages, Chavez has been in power for 10 years and the referendum vote helps clear the way for him to fulfill his declared goal of ruling for decades. But the self-styled revolutionary veered from his typical victory speech script of vowing to accelerate his moves to control the economy and to fight U.S. influence in the region. Instead, the Cuba and Iran ally promised to combat crime and corruption, which have weighed on his popularity in recent years, and said his priority was consolidation. "If we reinforce what we have already done, then starting next year, we will be in a much better position to open new horizons," he told flag-waving, red-clad supporters from his palace balcony.

“David and Goliath” " This victory is also yours, Fidel, of the Cuban people and of the people of Latin America " President Hugo Chavez Chavez won a larger victory Sunday than polls had predicted, with 54.36 percent of preliminary results compared with 45.63 percent for the opposition, according to the National Electoral Council. More than 11 million people out of some 17 million eligible voters took part, said Tibisay Lucena, the council's president. Leopoldo Lopez, one of the main opposition leaders, compared the campaign to a battle between David and Goliath in which Goliath won. Critics charge that Chavez has too much power, with influence over the courts, lawmakers and the election council. Chavez said he received his first congratulations from his mentor, former Cuban president Fidel Castro. "This victory is also yours, Fidel, of the Cuban people and of the people of Latin America," responded Chavez. The victory strengthens Chavez's mandate and could prompt him to expand his socialist drive, which has included nationalizations and greater state control over the economy in recent years. But it also comes amid warnings that his social programs could be hard hit by tumbling oil prices. Venezuelans voted on an amendment to five articles of the constitution that would grant the president, mayors, local councilors, lawmakers and governors unlimited bids for re-election. The president was previously allowed two consecutive terms, which would have forced Chavez to step down at the end of his second mandate in 2013.