Could Venezuela's Record Murder Rate Push Chavez Out of Office?

[DefiantSix]

Waiting for the panic from Beth & the Hugo fellaters at the DUmp in 3... 2... 1...

Could Venezuela's Record Murder Rate Push Chavez Out of Office?
Written By Julie Banderas | Published January 03, 2012 | Fox News Latino

Since first being elected to office 12 years ago, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez emerged as one of Venezuela’s most popular figures despite high crime rates. But a record murder rate in 2011 raises the question: Will Hugo Chávez will finally be pushed out of office when he seeks re-election in 2012? 

According to The Venezuela Violence Observatory (OVV) violent crime has risen steadily in Venezuela since Chávez, a former soldier turned politician, was elected in 1999. In that year, only 4,550 murders were registered. In 2011, the number of murders had more than quadrupled. 

According to The Venezuela Violence Observatory, at least 19,336 people were killed in 2011, an average of 53 a day making Venezuela's murder rate the highest in South America and four times that of Mexico.

Based on research by several Venezuelan universities, Venezuela had a murder rate of 67 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011. That compares to 32 per 100,000 last year in neighboring Colombia, and 14 per 100,000 in Mexico - two countries suffering widespread drug-related violence. 

Criminal violence in Venezuela will undoubtedly be a major issue when Chávez seeks another term in office, despite the alarming number of murders, Chávez still remains popular among Venezuela's poor thanks to the redistribution of oil wealth through social programs.

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I think this is much ado about nothing for a couple of reasons.  First, since Venezuela under Chavez is a socialist hell-hole, I expect that all of these newly deceased citizens are going to swell the vote for Dear Leader beyond all previous records, even without having the zombies vote multiple times.  Second, even if the the Chavez government is routed in the next batch of elections, what are the chances that Dear Leader will be on this side of the grass long enough to get the boot?

[DumbAss Tanker]

Considering how he operates, I expect a quarter of the toll is from his own death squads, and even on the legalistic side he has used his dictatorial powers to suppress any organized opposition rather successfully.  It's therefore rather 'Difficult' for anyone to challenge him.  However, as you note D6, the Reaper is near at hand for him, so his re-election may well be a moot point.

   

[DLR Pyro]

I think the big C is going to push chavez out of office long before he can run for re-election in 2012.