CARACAS (AFP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday announced he was seeking a constitutional amendment to allow himself to seek reelection again, saying he hoped to lead the OPEC nation until 2021.

Chavez said he was directing his ruling United Socialist party (PSUV) to seek a ""constitutional amendment and reelection of the president of the republic"" saying he was ""ready (to govern) through 2021.""
""I give the PSUV and the Venezuelan people my authorization to begin the debate and take the steps necessary to obtain that constitutional amendment and reelection of the president ... and I am sure that we will get it now,"" Chavez said at the swearing-in of Caracas' Libertador district's mayor Jorge Rodriguez.
""I am ready, and if I am healthy, God willing, I will be with you until 2019, until 2021,"" added the 54-year-old Chavez.
On November 24 -- almost a year after losing a vote on extending his powers -- Chavez had said ""It's the people's right (to vote on the issue). We'll see if the people use this right, and if all the country approves it or not if there is a referendum.""
Just over a week ago Chavez's party scored a string of victories in key local polls, but in a blow to his socialist revolution the opposition won some major power centers.