Brazil's ex-president Lula: "Chávez should be working on his succession"

In an interview published on Thursday by Argentine newspaper La Nación, former president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remarked that reelected President Chávez "should start working on his succession."

"An election was held in Venezuela. There were two candidates, (Henrique) Capriles and Chávez, and I thought Chávez would be the best for Venezuela. Now I also believe that my partner Chávez should start working on his succession," Lula asserted.

He judged that the fact that the Venezuelan Constitution allows unlimited reelections is detrimental for democracy. "That is why I did not want a third term in office, because I would have wanted a fourth term in office, and then a fifth term. And in democracy, the alternation in power is an achievement for humanity, and therefore, it should be maintained," said Lula.

Lula added that Venezuela has made "great improvements," since President Chávez took over and that "poor people have gained dignity" ever since. He also praised Chávez's role in Latin America. "Before, even toilets were imported from the United States, now (Venezuela) imports from Argentina, Brazil, and other countries. Venezuela started looking at Latin America, that is why I advocated the entry of Venezuela into the Common Market of the South (Mercosur)," Lula highlighted.