A Long Caracas Night After A Calm Voting Day Despite Fears of Opposition-Staged Disruptions
Voting went smoothly overall on Sunday despite early warnings of planned opposition-led disruptions. Polls were scheduled to close at 4:00PM but were kept open as long as people were still queued in lines. Things were tense late in the day when Reuters reported at 6:34PM that "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appear(s) headed for victory on Sunday....citing exit polls. Three exit polls showed the anti-American leader won by between six and eight percentage points in a vote where turnout was low. The opposition was skeptical," and they were right. Reuters, Sky News, Fox News and China News all reported Chavez appeared to have won.
It was unofficial because polls were still open, and at 8:00PM no exit poll figures or government results had been released. Official ones based on about 92% of votes counted from Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) finally came on Bloques A and B at 1:15AM. Venezuelapress.com reported them as follows:
-- Block A: No - 50.70%; Si (Yes) - 49.29%;
-- Block B: No - 51.05%; Si (Yes) - 48.94%;
-- Abstention: 44.11%;
-- Total votes cast: 9,002,439 with 118,693 unvalidated. Turnout was about 55% compared to 75% in last December's presidential election.
The result is in stark contrast to a widely quoted Consultores independent poll conducted from November 26 - 30 that showed among likely voters Chavez would win with 56% against 44% voting "no." The same poll showed among all respondents Chavez led 55% to 42%. It and others with similar recent results were wrong as Chavez suffered his first electoral defeat in nearly nine years in office. It turned out that many of his supporters were swayed by opposition claims that he'd gone too far and voted "no." Many others didn't vote, and that was the likely decisive factor as it appears most were Chavez supporters.
At 7:11AM, December 3, Reuters corrected its earlier report. From Caracas it said: "President Hugo Chavez crashed to an unprecendented vote defeat (announced) on Monday as Venezuelans narrowly rejected his bid to run for re-election indefinitely and accelerate his socialist revolution in the OPEC nation....Chavez conceded defeat but said he would "continue in the battle to build socialism....This is not a defeat. This is a 'for now.' I have listened to the voice of the people and I will always be listening to it" as he referred to the opposition's "pyrrhic victory."
He was also gracious in defeat saying: "To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them." He told his supporters: "Don't feel sad. For now, we couldn't do it. I will not withdraw even one comma of this proposal, this proposal is still alive." He also told reporters "Venezuelan democracy is maturing (and) I understand and accept that the proposal I made was quite profound and intense."
As expected, his opponents were gloating, but one pollster struck a positive note saying: "This defeat has two sides to it for Chavez. He came out the loser after a tough plebiscite campaign but he also gets rid of the accusation that he is a dictator." Chavez earlier said and repeated he would accept the results of the vote, and he stands by his word. It proved the process is open, free and fair unlike elections in many other so-called democracies that aren't. The struggle indeed continues with powerful popular support backing it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Steve Lendman News and Information Hour on TheMicroEffect.com Mondays at noon US Central time.
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
the sticking point for some was the extension of the Term of Office for the President. I wonder why Chavez, who has five more years to serve, doesnt delete this point and return to the voters next year.
I am solidly a supporter of Hugo Chavez and that which he is bringing, not only to Venezuela, but to the entire region. After all, anyone who calls Bush the devil and says he smells sulphur and brimstone in public has my attention! Chavez is almost alone in opposing US imperialism in South America and such an idea could and should spread.
But at the same time I am also fond of the democratic process and a President who is allowed to serve for a very long period of time may become an obstacle to the growth of democracy. Surely Hugo can have a great influence on that region after leaving office.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 12:49:51 PM
Stalin and Kim tended to get more pushy as they got older. Fidel, fortunately got milder as he got older, slowly changing from the hot head that executed his enemies soon after he became in charge. Several hippy communes had a hassle getting their once enlightened leader to retire.
So I cheer the Venezuelans. However, I am worried about what it means for the rest of the world. The way the CIA is spinning it as a success for the US. We are entering a world where bin Laden and suicidal nealists with their “I ain’t going to take it any more theatrics” offer inspiration for the disenchanted, and mistreated, Columbine, Virginia Tech. and now in Finland of all places. A suicidal doctor, slamming his car into a gate killing only himself in a fiery cash supposedly accomplishing something while a Buddhist monk executed while defiantly praying in public is instead considered a sad story.
Bin Laden, Armageddon seeking Christians, and Jewish neocons have some sort of what they consider good news coming, and know how to use each other toward that purpose. But the real problem for the world is the lack of positive inspiration.
Firstly, the "infamous" CIA memo from Agent Michael Middleton Steere has never been authenticated. Agent Steere, to the extent he is a real person, has (to date) neither had his diplomatic immunity stripped nor has he been expulsed from the country. You can "wax rhapsodic" all you want about a memo whose existence has yet to be proved, but it adds no validity or logical reasoning to your subsequent assertions of CIA involvement in the opposition vote on the constitutional referendum vote.
And secondly, could a source please be provided for this statement - "The way the CIA is spinning it as a success for the US,"? I tried searching for the CIA commenting on the recent referendum vote but couldn't find any comments - good or bad - by the CIA or even Agent Steere.
Chavez will return to push through his constituional reforms. His comments at the time of his concession speech validate as such. Chavez stated that he would, "continue in the battle to build socialism... For now, we couldn't do it... I will not [though] withdraw even one comma of this proposal, this proposal is still alive..." - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7124313.stm .
by
Tom Murphy (3 articles, 3 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 1545 comments)
on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 1:58:52 PM
As usual your article is far better than most keep up the good work.
Tom has a point about the authenticity of 'the memo'. Tragically when it comes to the CIA and other American Alphabet soup organizations it is difficult to separate the Hollywood Urban myths (water on dripping on stone media conditioning) and reality. One is entitled to ask how much is truly political speak via its symbiotic relationship with the media and the media’s salacious grab attention in order to sell advertising.
However given their history and selfserving nature of both (government instrumentalities and the media) one does tend to believe that the memo may contain an element of truth.
All security organizations are by definition conspiratorial, secretive and paranoid. If there weren’t any perceived threats their very existence would superfluous. Andris’ Observation of organizations: The primary objective of any organization is to survive and this objective supersedes all other purposes.Like wise Richard also has a point, Andris’ first Observations of Organizational renewal: The longer an organization exists unchanged the less relevant it becomes to it purpose of its creation. This is followed by Andris’ second Observation of Organizational renewal: The longer a leader stays in play the more good intentions change into atrophying ideology that supersedes all other purposes. ( proof of this was Australia’s John Howard whoultimately become only the 2ndsitting Prime Minister in Australia’s history to lose his seat…. Why? Because He lost touch with the people and went all “ideologically Right” (Work Choices)
In short only time will tell if Chavez is ajust another self obsessed ideologue or a true leader. Implicit in the latter is wisdom to know when to go. Having said that, it would appear that his record so far while patchy is over all impressive.
The independence of the Electoral Commission is reminiscent of many Countries like Australia and New Zealand. One can also note that flaw in his voting system is the literacy level of Venezuelan peasants. Ie If you can’t read how do you know that the print out is an accurate depiction of your intentions. Other than that maybe there’s a lesson for America.
by
Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 532 comments)
on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 5:51:42 PM
