Mack: Chavez Leaving No Stone Unturned in Quest for Absolute Power

Press Release

Mack: Chavez Leaving No Stone Unturned in Quest for Absolute Power

WASHINGTON - Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Venezuelan National Assembly's recent actions to further rollback the country's constitution, including allowing President Hugo Chavez to seek continuous re-election by abolishing presidential term limits and increasing the number of signatures needed to trigger a presidential recall vote.

Mack, one of Congress' sharpest critics of Chavez, said:

"Once again, the Venezuelan National Assembly - packed with Chavez's political cronies - has rubber-stamped Hugo Chavez's plans to trample on the rights and freedoms of Venezuelans and to rule indefinitely.

"Ever since he came to power, Chavez has systematically manipulated every aspect of Venezuela's government - as well as the Fourth Estate - to work to his advantage. What's more, Chavez is forming troubling alliances with the likes of the Iranian mullahs; he's exporting his dangerous ideology to other countries in the region; and he's urging those leaders to implement their own form of authoritarian rule in their respective countries.

"Hugo Chavez continues to leave no stone unturned in his tireless quest to snuff out every last vestige of freedom in Venezuela. The American people long to be able to help our friends - the people of Venezuela - stave off Chavez's hostile takeover of their nation. The time has long past for the United States to do more to help them save and secure their freedom."

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