Venezuelans voted yesterday on a reform proposal that would allow socialist President Hugo Chavez to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections after a turbulent decade ruling the OPEC nation.

Chavez, who says he needs another 10 years for his revolution to take root, holds a slim edge in polls, but many Venezuelans remain undecided on the constitutional reform to lift restrictions on reelection.

A burly former soldier who often challenges US influence in the region, Chavez narrowly lost a vote in December to end term limits and if he loses his second try he would have to leave office in 2013 or find another way to change the rules.

Booming fireworks and recordings of military bugles playing from trucks woke up residents in Caracas, where Venezuelans started lining up at the polling stations before dawn.

"This is going to define the future of this country, of this revolution," said Juan Carlos Carrillo, a clothes salesman, voting in Caracas. "It is the president who is going to maintain all the advances we have."

Spearheaded by a student movement, the fragmented opposition's campaign slogan is "No is No," referring to the failed 2007 bid to extend the rule of Chavez.

"People want peace, they don't want any more confrontation," Caracas mayor and opposition leader, Antonio Ledezma, said after casting his ballot in the capital.

Confident of victory this time, Chavez, 54, says a win would reinforce his mandate to forge a socialist state and challenge Washington in Latin America. After his last ballot box win in 2006 he sped up aggressive nationalizations.

Agencies

(China Daily 02/16/2009 page7)