Imagine what would it happen if only selected people from Hugo´s Chavez supporters could select the next president of Venezuela or if in the Catholic Church all baptized could vote to elect the new pope. It is hard to imagine it, but there are different possible ways to select the President in Venezuela, in the same way there are many possible forms to select the pope in the catholic church. Each process has its own characteristics, which are described below.
The presidential election in Venezuela is made through universal, direct and secret vote, the voting age in Venezuela is 18 years old or older and the people must be registered in the National Electoral Council. After the 2009 referendum approved Amendment No. 1 to the Constitution, the restrictions on successive nominations for elected positions such as president were eliminated, which means that the charge is not life time charge but it may become.
In exchange for the election of the pope is called the conclave being held by the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church to elect a new pope, the selected cardenal will be also the chief bishop of Rome and the Catholic Church for a life time period.
The ironically, Chavez as president turned the Venezuelan presidential charge in lifetime position and the Pope who otherwise was suposed to die as the leader of the catholic church resigned of his charge.
But, what if the rules used to elect a president in Venezuela were used in the conclave?
Catholic Pope would be choose once every six years.
A pope could be reelected indefinitely if another election allowed him.
Women may vote for the election of could be selected as pope.
On the other hand what if the standards used in the conclave to elect the pope were used in the election of the president in Venezuela?
First one could choose a high-ranking council members chosen by Chavez and his predecessors.
The president would be for life.
Women could not vote or run for election and the president.
Things do not have to be addressed one way, and election systems have been, are and will be varied, it is interesting to think that the selection systems may be different and not close to only see one way the world.
