Angus Reid Global Monitor: Most people in Venezuela think Hugo Chavez should only stay in office until the end of his current term, according to a poll by Hinterlaces. 61% of respondents want Chavez to step down in 2012, whereas 34% would allow him to stay as president until 2021.

Chavez -- a left-leaning leader -- has been in office since February 1999. In July 2000, he was elected to a six-year term with 59.5% of all cast ballots. In August 2004, Chavez won a referendum on his tenure with 59% of the vote. The special election was called after opposition organizations in Venezuela gathered 2.5 million signatures to force a recall ballot. In December 2006, Chavez earned a new six-year term with 62.89% of the vote.

Energy-rich Venezuela is currently facing repeated blackouts and water shortages. On October 27, the President renewed calls for people to ration their energy use, adding that wasting electricity is "a crime." Days before, Chavez had warned that if shopping malls waste power, "They're going to have to buy their generator, and if not I'll cut off their power."

Polling Data

Which of these options would you prefer?

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/34416/
chvez_should_leave_in_2012_say_venezuelans