In order to attack his opponents and discourage the second stage of an alleged destabilizing plan aimed at leaving Chávez "as the single candidate with an abstention of half constituencies," President Hugo Chávez is thinking over a popular referendum to extend his incumbency until 2031. It would be no threat to democracy," he claimed.

During his election campaign in 1998, when making reference for the first time to a amendment to the Constitution, President Chávez said in a meeting with ranchers that he would step down "some day."

"I was thinking, if they want to apply an American way on me, if there is no opposition candidate for the elections to try to oust me indirectly, if the United States seeks world condemnation of Venezuela, or make the Government illegitimate, if they try to advance their plans in the elections… For instance, if there is no opposition candidate, I could infer. I could run for new elections and issue a directive to call a popular referendum. The question would be: 'Do you agree to Chávez running for a third term in 2013?'"

"This can be solved in the popular way. If people say yes, the Constitution could change. People is sovereign, and perhaps I will not leave in 2013, but six years thereafter, in 2019; then additional six years, 2025, and then, additional six years, 2031," he ascertained Sunday in his TV and radio show.