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Sunday, November 23, 2008

VENEZUELA

Referendum: 'No' to Chavez

Venezuela's provocative leader, Hugo Chavez, faced defeat after his people said "no" to controversial reforms that would have expanded his presidential powers, in a referendum on Dec. 2.

All special reports

Venezuelan voters rejected constitutional changes in a referendum on Sunday Dec. 2 to bolster President Hugo Chavez’s grip on power. According to the National Electoral Council 51% of the voters said 'no' to reforms and 49% voted in favour of Chavez. Chavez, who faces his first-ever election defeat, said he had lost by only a "minimal" margin and that he was encouraged by all the support he got.


Draped in red, the pro-reform Chavez partisans were drumming up support throughout Venezuela during the campaign for the referendum. But the proposed changes had sparked doubt even among his staunch followers in the shanty towns. The opposition camp including students, rights and business groups, who warn that Chavez's grip on the country is already too tight, celebrated the anti-US leader's loss. Opponents, led by university students, staged frequent street demonstrations ahead of the referendum vote which police brutally broke up with rubber bullets and tear gas.


Chavez, a 53-year-old former paratrooper, had been trying to push through controversial changes allowing him to run for re-election indefinitely, to impose emergency media censorship, and to further consolidate power by choosing regional officials. Venezuela's firebrand leader also wanted to enshrine his Bolivarian revolutionary ideals by declaring Venezuela a "socialist" state, taking over the central bank and permitting authorities to expropriate private property - mirroring communist Cuba under Fidel Castro, whom Chavez admires and calls "father".

The importance of Venezuela - an OPEC member and one of the biggest suppliers of oil to the United States - had focused international attention on Sunday's referendum. Washington, which Chavez accuses of being behind a failed 2002 coup against him, has watched uncomfortably as the firebrand Venezuelan leader has brought other Latin American nations into his camp, including Ecuador, Chile and Nicaragua.

Chavez, the poor man's hero Chavez enjoys massive support amongst the nation's poor, who listen to community radio in the lead-up to the referendum. (Report: L. Menget, V. Herz.)

Opponents rally against referendum
Tens of thousands took to the streets on Thursday to denounce the referendum that would grant Chavez new powers.

A Chavez charm offensive As the referendum approaches, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is launching a charm offensive to convince voters to support him. FRANCE 24 follows him during a meeting in Caracas.

Anti-reform activists struggle to gather support Though Venezuelans have expressed doubts over their president's bid to reform the country's constitution, the opposition struggles to campaign against the reforms.

Images

AFP

A young woman passes by grafittis pro and against the constitutional amendments promoted by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez 28 November 2007 in Caracas.

AFP

A young woman passes by grafittis pro and against the constitutional amendments promoted by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez 28 November 2007 in Caracas.

  • Photos

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 27, 2007. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez displays two miniature versions of the constitution, the present one, in blue and the new one, in red.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 29, 2007. About 100,000 demostrated on the streets of Caracas, protesting the propsed changes to the constitution.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 27, 2007. Chavez supporters attend a rally backing the constitutional amendment.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Aug. 15, 2007. A giant Chavez dummy flexes its muscles outside the National Assembly building.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 29, 2007. At an anti-Chavez rally, an elderly woman displays her opposition to the constitutional amendment.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 24, 2007. A Venezuelan citizen writes a message against the constitutional reform.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 28, 2007. Students demonstrating against the constitutional reforms throw stones during clashes with the police.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 28, 2007. Venezuelan military National Guard members protect themselves during a students protest rally.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 30, 2007: Employees of the state-owned Petroleo de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) oil company arrive to a rally to suport the constitutional amendment.

      • AFP

        Caracas, Nov. 29, 2007. Posters of leftist leaders Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Guevara and Venezuelan Fabricio Ojeda, adorn a wall in downtown Caracas.

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