MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Civic spirit” of Venezuela's vote praised by US

The United States cautiously welcomed Venezuela's Sunday referendum vote to scrap limits on how often politicians, including President Hugo Chavez, can run for office.

State Department spokesman Noel Clay praised Monday "the civic spirit" of the referendum on Sunday and "the participation of millions of Venezuelans who exercised their democratic right to vote". But he said it was important that elected officials in Venezuela focused "on governing democratically" and concentrate in the problems which concern the Venezuelan people. "We encourage all sectors of the Venezuelan society to respect the diversity of the use of the vote which is the fortitude of a pluralist democracy", added Clay. Mr Chavez is one of Washington's most outspoken critics, who last year expelled the US ambassador in Caracas. However he has said he is hopeful of establishing a "respectful and dignified" dialogue with the administration of President Barack Obama. Mr Chavez has said he needs to stay in office beyond the end of his current term in 2012 so he can secure what he calls Venezuela's socialist revolution. Critics say that would concentrate too much power in the presidency. On Monday, Venezuela's electoral commission said that with 94% of votes counted, 54% backed an end to term limits. "The doors of the future are wide open," Mr Chavez shouted from the balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace after the results were announced. "In 2012 there will be presidential elections, and unless God decides otherwise, unless the people decide otherwise, this soldier is already a candidate." Crowds of the president's supporters filled in the streets, letting off fireworks, waving red flags and honking car horns. More than 11 million voters out of almost 17 million who were eligible took part in the referendum, said the head of the electoral body, Tibisay Lucena. Election observers, who included representatives from Latin American nations, European Parliament deputies and European academics, said the ballot had been free and fair. Opposition figures said they would not contest the result but they said victory had been achieved thanks to huge government funding and blanket state television coverage. Under existing constitutional rules, the president was limited to two six-year terms in office, which meant that Mr Chavez would have had to leave the presidency in three years' time. A proposal to end presidential term limits was one of a package of 69 constitutional changes narrowly rejected in a referendum in late 2007.