The Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chávez, denied he wanted to stay in power indefinitely after announcing plans to abolish limits to presidential re-election.
Mr Chávez also told the country's National Assembly that presidential terms should be extended from six to seven years.
"I propose to the sovereign people the seven-year presidential term, the president can be re-elected immediately for a new term," Mr Chavez said in a the four-hour speech.
"If someone says this is a project to entrench oneself in power, no - it's only a possibility, a possibility that depends on many variables."
