Reply #17: If anyone has a complete list of the changes being considered for the Venezuelan constitution, [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

please leave a link. A lot of us have to divide our time between things like researching and trying to attend our lives, so every little bit helps.

I found a look at some of the proposed changes here:

Sunday, August 26
Proposed constitutional changes to extend democracy in Venezuela



A statement from the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network

August 25, 2007

When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez presented a series of proposed constitutional changes to the Venezuelan National Assembly on August 22, thousands of enthusiastic supporters rallied outside. The changes, supported by an estimated 70% of the population according to an August 16 BBC report, will not come into effect unless they are ratified by the Venezuelan people in a referendum.

The referendum itself will be preceded by an exhaustive process of national discussion, consultation and debate, including regular discussions on TV, thousands of specially organised community gatherings, and the active soliciting of input from social and community organisations, and political parties.

However, this democratic process has not prevented the unpopular Venezuelan opposition and the international media from labelling the changes "undemocratic" and even "a constitutional coup". Most of the international media have deceptively portrayed the proposed reforms as an authoritarian measure designed to keep Chavez in power for life.

The proposed changes to the existing constitution, which was adopted by popular referendum in 1999 – a referendum also initiated by Chavez - are designed to deepen Venezuela's socialist revolution and extend the rights of its people to democratically decide the fate of their nation.
(snip/...)

http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/proposed-constitutional-changes-to.html

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Of course we know the power is being de-centralized, so any right-wing gibberish about Chavez trying to gobble up more power for himself is oddly improvised, and right-wing-serving. They thrive on misinformation, but everyone else needs facts.