Venezuelans Vote to Boost Power of Chavez

Venezuelans overwhelmingly approved on Wednesday a constitution that eliminates the Senate and vastly increases the power of President Hugo Chavez, allowing him to stay in office for up to 13 years, according to early results.

With more than 80% of the ballots counted, 71% of voters were in favor of the new charter and 29% opposed.

Street celebrations immediately broke out when the initial results were announced by the National Electoral Council.

Torrential downpours that killed 17 people forced officials to delay poll closings by two hours because many people had not been able to reach voting centers.

When Chavez cast his ballot earlier in the day, he said: “This is a historic day. It is a day that will define the next 200 years in Venezuela.”

By winning Wednesday’s bid, Chavez has achieved what has eluded most Latin American revolutionaries for decades: the elimination of the old political order and the creation of a new state.

Critics, however, say Chavez is trampling the law and creating a state at odds with the demands of modernity.

The new constitution expands the rights of minorities and seeks to clean up corrupt courts and break the stranglehold of political parties that most Venezuelans blame for squandering the Western Hemisphere’s largest oil reserves.

But the charter also sharply reduces civilian control of the army and increases the state’s role in managing the economy.

It extends presidential terms from five to six years and ends the current ban on immediate reelection, giving Chavez, who took office in February, a chance to rule for an additional 12 years.

It also changes the country’s official name from the Republic of Venezuela to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.