BBC: Venezuela set for poll campaign

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 1 August 2006, 03:57 GMT 04:57 UK

Venezuela set for poll campaign
By Greg Morsbach
BBC News, Caracas

Campaigning officially begins on Tuesday in Venezuela, ahead of a presidential
election due to take place in December.

Incumbent President Hugo Chavez - who is on a two-week world tour - is set to run
for a third term in office.

Opinion polls put support for Mr Chavez at between 50% and 60%, with most of his
rivals hovering at around 5%.

This will be the first time in Venezuela's history that a president is seeking a third
consecutive term.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5233594.stm

[Selatius]

1. It's the second time according to the current constitution

His first time was under the old constitution in 1998. That was replaced in a constitutional convention where the current constitution was established. He ran under the new constitution and won in 2000. He survived a military coup in 2002 launched by corporate opponents, a lock-out/strike by the same corporate elements in 2003, and survived a recall referendum in 2004 winning 59 percent called by the same opponents. Technically, he is in his first term in office under the new constitution.