MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela readies to vote controversial indefinite re-election

Venezuelan armed forces started on Friday moving to polling stations in Caracas to guarantee security during the upcoming Sunday referendum that would abolish term limits of elected leaders and could allow President Hugo Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely.

Army General Jesus Gonzalez Gonzalez said soldiers were on their way to 11,670 voting centres, where they would safeguard all voting equipment. Venezuelans will vote on the constitutional amendment on Sunday, with recent polls suggesting that Chavez is gaining support for the controversial measure but it's still a tight race. Chavez's supporters say he needs to stay in power to oversee the completion of his socialist project - which has given the poor access to affordable food, education and health care. Critics fear Chavez is seeking indefinite re-election and question many of the alleged achievements of his Bolivarian revolution. The referendum is the charismatic Chavez second attempt to eliminate term limits. In December 2007, voters rejected a similar measure as part of a constitutional reform package. In the run-up to Sunday's vote, Chavez has been intensely campaigning for the change, addressing supporters for hours at a time, nearly everyday, on state television. Chavez has positioned himself as the alternative to widespread violence, while accusing opposition leaders and student groups of trying to throw the country into chaos and planning riots if he wins. While the opposition accuse Chavez's government of wide spread corruption and unfulfilled promises, supporters argue the upcoming referendum does not mean the outspoken leader will remain in power forever. For them, an approval of the amendment will simply give him another chance to run. Chavez was first elected in 1998. Under the current constitution he is barred from running again when his term expires in 2012. As of Friday, 48 hours before the vote, all political campaigning is banned and so is the sale of alcohol and carrying weapons by civilians.