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Chavez Defeated Over Reform Vote
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Mon Dec 3, 2007 @ 1:46am |
 Coolness: 146085 | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes.
Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said. Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict. Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution". Celebrations by the opposition began almost immediately in the capital, Caracas, with activists cheering, beeping car horns and waving flags. Mr Chavez swiftly conceded but insisted that he would "continue in the battle to build socialism". "Don't feel sad," he told his supporters, saying there were "microscopic differences" between the "yes" and "no" options. He said the reforms had failed "for now" but they were "still alive". 'Too much power' The result marks the president's first electoral reverse since he won power in an election in 1998. Since then he has set about introducing sweeping changes in the country's laws aimed at redistributing the Venezuela's oil wealth to poorer farmers in rural areas. With his raft of reforms, Mr Chavez was seeking an end to presidential term limits and the removal of the Central Bank's autonomy. The main opposition parties had claimed during the referendum campaign that Mr Chavez was seeking to give himself too much power, and was trying to establish a dictatorship. Mr Chavez said the package of reforms was necessary to "construct a new socialist economy". from [ news.bbc.co.uk ] |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Captain.Obvious replied on Mon Dec 3, 2007 @ 1:50am |
 Coolness: 33110 | Chavez is a nice guy who wants nothing more than freedom for all. |
| I'm feeling evident right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Mon Dec 3, 2007 @ 6:19am |
| Coolness: 146085 | i'm so surprised... i though he would win... |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Captain.Obvious replied on Mon Dec 3, 2007 @ 3:26pm |
| Coolness: 33110 | The Quebec Separation referendum was closer. |
| I'm feeling evident right now.. | |
Chavez Defeated Over Reform Vote
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