President Chávez ready to step down

Pursuant to the National Constitution, there is not need to quit office in order to run for reelection, President Hugo Chávez said during a press conference with the local media.

"If the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) were to decide that I should quit office to run for reelection, then I would abide by the order. (Vice-President) José Vicente (Rangel) would take office and I would walk down the street. Anyhow, we will win the elections with 10 million votes," he noted.

"I expect them not to play again the dirty trick of last December (concerning withdrawal from parliament elections) and keep their candidacy. If they are to hold primary elections, then the country urges them to exercise their democratic rights."

"We will act according to what they do. The country should be asked, in the face of all constitutional processes, if it agrees on a president running as candidate for indefinite re-election. I think that the course of democracy will not be changed at all. People have the ultimate decision. Firstly, they will decide in the referendum, if any," Chávez added.