Chavez, Si!

Tonight, Hugo Chavez has won the people.


Tonight, with 54% in the preliminary count, Chavez has abolished term limits.

Some say Chavez is turning into a dictator, some say he already is one, some say he is a socialist savior. I have my views which are likely to change as I have only been here 1 month of 12. But for now I think it is wise to keep those views shared with only a select few.

When the announcement was made fireworks sounded off in the distance from my house, I stepped outside to watch.
The boom of the fireworks echoed of the hills surrounding my suburb which is accross the road of a poor area.

Children accross the road paraded red flags, and flags of Venezuela, blowing whistles and dancing in the street. Cars drove up and down sounding their horns and turning their car alarms on (Yes apparently, you can drive your car with the car alarm on! I did not know that...). Cars and Motorbikes continuously passing with the flags of socialism.
For them, a night of celebration, for many others, a night of greiving, it is quite possible people will leave the country. I do not know, but it is a grand victory for Chavez.

The first man to congratulate the President was his socialist commrade, Cuba's Fidal Castro.

" "Dear Hugo, congratulations for you and for your people for a victory that, by its size, is impossible to measure," Castro wrote, according to Chavez.

"This victory is also yours, Fidel, of the Cuban people and of the people of Latin America," responded Chavez, a leader of leftists in the region. " "



For the month I have been living in Venezuela, politically, everything was building up to tonight. Today a vote was held, si or no. The vote was to abolish term limits, which would allow Hugo Chavez (the President of Venezuela for the past 10 years) to stand again at the next election, and continue his desire for a new socialist republic.


I see a very interesting time ahead this year. I am lucky to be in this country during this time, and to witness this, and decide for myself whether this man is positive for the country.



" "The doors of the future are wide open," Chavez told the crowd shouting "victory, victory, popular victory!" "



http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/409322/1/.html