President Hugo Chavez is celebrating victory in a referendum to end term limits for elected officials. The president's proposal passed with 54 percent of votes cast. The measure will allow Mr. Chavez to stay in power as long as he keeps winning elections.
委内瑞拉总统查韦斯正在庆祝废除民选官员任期限制的全民公投的胜利。查韦斯的建议获得了54%的委内瑞拉选民的赞同。这样，只要查韦斯能不断在选举中胜出，他就可以无限期地掌权。
President Chavez spoke to thousands of supporters shortly after the release of results showing a clear victory for the reform plan. Mr. Chavez had urged people to support the measure to give him more time in office to carry out his socialist-inspired reforms.
在投票结果显示查韦斯的改革计划获得胜利之后不久，查韦斯向数千名支持者发表了讲话。公投前，他曾呼吁他的支持者们赞同他的计划，以便给他更多的时间来进行他的社会主义改革。
He said that everyone who voted in favor of the measure also voted in favor of socialism.
他说，任何在公投中投赞同票的人同时也支持社会主义。
Mr. Chavez dedicated the vote result to all of Venezuela's children, saying it was a victory for the future and for socialism.
查韦斯把投票的结果贡献给委内瑞拉所有的儿童。他说，这是未来的胜利，社会主义的胜利。
The reform allows Mr. Chavez to seek re-election for a third term in a planned 2012 vote. The president has said he hopes to serve at least until 2018, but it is unclear if wants to remain in power beyond that date.
委内瑞拉计划在2012年进行总统选举。这次改革将使得查韦斯能够争取第3个任期。查韦斯还表示，他希望至少任职到2018年，但是目前还不清楚他是否有意在2018年后继续任职。
Opposition leaders have accused the president of backing the reform in an effort to cling to power. They note the reform sets Venezuela apart from all other nations in the hemisphere -- except Cuba - which impose term limits on top elected officials.
反对派领导人指责查韦斯企图把持权力不放。他们指出，这次改革使得委内瑞拉成为整个西半球除古巴以外唯一一个不对民选官员作出任期限制的国家。
Speaking Sunday, President Chavez vowed to use the coming years to rebuild many government institutions, to help them better serve the people.
查韦斯星期天在讲话中发誓要在今后几年中重建许多政府机构，使之更好地为人民服务。
He said the country needs new institutions staffed by men and women who are honest and committed to public service.
他说，委内瑞拉需要由诚实和致力于公共服务的男女官员所构成的新的政府机构。
Over the past 10 years, Mr. Chavez has redirected significant portions of government revenue from oil sales into social programs. Scores of Venezuelans say they have benefited from the education, health and job training programs.
在过去10年里，查韦斯把政府从石油销售中获得的许多利润用于社会项目。许多委内瑞拉人表示，他们从教育和医疗制度改革以及就业培训项目中获得了好处。
The president said his government has made great achievements inside the country, and now he hopes to make Venezuela into an international player.
查韦斯还表示，他的政府在国内取得了巨大的成就，同时他也希望委内瑞拉在国际舞台上发挥更大作用。
He said over the next 10 years he will continue strengthening Venezuela to become an international powerhouse.
他说，在今后10年里，他将继续努力，使委内瑞拉成为一个世界大国。
Sunday's vote outcome was a vindication for Mr. Chavez, who lost a December 2007 poll. Voters rejected a similar proposal on term limits, which was included in a broad package of constitutional reforms.
在2007年12月举行的一次类似性质的公投中，委内瑞拉选民对包括取消官员任期限制在内的一系列宪政改革措施表示反对。对查韦斯来说，星期天的投票结果似乎是对那次公投的逆反。 |