VENEZUELA: Venezuelan President vows he will win and vows there will be no fraud in the upcoming presidential election

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took the stage on Thursday (November 30) in a news conference before Sunday's (December 3) presidential election. According to the latest polls, Chavez continues to hold a comfortable double-digit lead over opponent Manuel Rosales. He spoke confidently about his chances on Sunday, vowing that he would win and pledging there would be no fraud. And though Election Day has not yet come and gone, he also discussed his future as Venezuela's leader. He said that he intended to establish a commission to review the Constitution, but tried to alleviate fears that he would install himself as a lifetime ruler. "(Referring to constitutional reform) I am not saying that I am going to put it in the constitution (a clause to say that he could stay in power indefinitely) because this would be a perversion - to say the President of the Republic Hugo Chavez will remain as President until he dies. What I am setting out is a very different thing; to study the possibility of (my) indefinite re-election, always and only if this were the will of the people (of Venezuela)," he said. Chavez also returned to one of his favourite topics - U.S. President George W. Bush - calling on him to leave office. "(Referring to President of the United States, George W Bush) He believes himself to be the slave owner, but he isn't the slave owner, not even in his house! Think about what has just happened to him (the midterm elections), the tremendous blow that his people dealt him. He should resign," he said. Chavez also took a hard line on news organizations calling the election results early. "(Referring to possibility of the media calling the result before the announcement of the National Electoral Council) On August 15 (referring to the 2004 recall referendum), they started to say that Chavez had already lost. Anyone who does this (makes these kinds of claims) is initiating a destabilization plan. It's as clear cut as that. In that case they will have to suffer the consequences," he said. Following the news conference, the issue turned to security as Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) went on national television to recognize federal troops who will fan out across the country to stand guard at voting stations. "The people of Venezuela want to vote and want to vote in peace with civility and happiness. The national armed forces, under the instructions of the electoral authority, and in accordance with the constitution, guarantees secure conditions for everyone to exercise their right to suffrage. Democracy is a party. Let's participate," CNE President, Tibisay Lucena said. Rosales denies the president's charge that he is planning to instigate street protests and an army uprising after the election. He called for a fair election himself on Thursday, urging Venezuelans to be watchful against dirty tricks in polling stations.

ITN Source | December 1, 2006

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