tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16711557.post3696751824551207912..comments2024-03-24T20:40:46.666-04:00Comments on Pan-African News Wire: Venezuela Hands Narrow Defeat to Socialist ReformsPan-African News Wirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10958190577776906688noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16711557.post-80046429331987477752007-12-03T13:11:00.000-05:002007-12-03T13:11:00.000-05:00Chávez: the Revolution demonstrated its ethicsBy J...Chávez: the Revolution demonstrated its ethics<BR/><BR/>By Juan Antonio Borrego—Granma daily special correspondent—<BR/><BR/>CARACAS, December 3.—The vote on the constitutional referendum yesterday in Venezuela demonstrated the ethics of the Bolivarian Revolution, affirmed President Hugo Chávez in a press conference after the referendum was narrowly defeated.<BR/><BR/>“For now, we were not able to do it,” Chávez stated, while stressing that the country’s institutional nature was demonstrated. “That points the way for the opposition to stop its leaps into the void and the road of destabilization and violence,” he noted.<BR/><BR/>“We are made for a long battle,” said the leader early Monday morning after the result was announced by Tibisay Lucena, president of the National Electoral Council (CNE).<BR/><BR/>The reform of 69 Constitutional articles and 15 provisional regulations were presented in two blocs. The CNE president stated that 50.7% of electors voted “No” and 49.29% voted “Yes” for the first group of laws, while the second group obtained 51.05% against and 48.94% for the reforms.<BR/><BR/>“The fact that 49% voted for the socialist project is a great political leap forward and we are keeping up the battle by building socialism within the framework allowed us by the Constitution,” Chávez emphasized. “This program is still alive and we shall follow it by working to attain maximum social inclusion and equality.”<BR/><BR/>The president commented on the abstention rate of 44.11% and observed that if work had been undertaken with the three million people who voted for him last year in the presidential elections and did not go to the polling stations this year, the result would have been a different one.<BR/><BR/>“We complied with our Constitution, and with our conscience. We would not in any way have accepted a pyrrhic victory,” he affirmed.<BR/><BR/>“We are going to prolong, extend and deepen the perspective and content of the process of building a socialist Venezuela in order to increase – as far as possible – the strategic speed of change of a revolution in the process of maturing,” he stated.<BR/><BR/>Translated by Granma InternationalPan-African News Wirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958190577776906688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16711557.post-10709445849683620872007-12-03T11:06:00.000-05:002007-12-03T11:06:00.000-05:00Voters have turned out in numbers in Venezuela's r...Voters have turned out in numbers in Venezuela's referendum on far-reaching constitutional changes sought by President Hugo Chavez. <BR/><BR/>The raft of proposed reforms would see the end of presidential term limits and the Central Bank's autonomy removed. <BR/><BR/>Mr Chavez says the proposed changes would return power to the people, but opponents accuse him of a power grab. <BR/><BR/>Residents of the capital, Caracas, were woken before dawn by fireworks and loud music, says a BBC correspondent. <BR/><BR/>It was a rallying call to vote, correspondent James Ingham says, and appeared to have the desired effect, with long queues, several hours long, forming outside polling stations. <BR/><BR/>'Conspiracy' <BR/><BR/>The past weeks have seen large anti-reform protests and the defection of several Chavez allies, complaining that his reforms go too far. <BR/><BR/>Mr Chavez has claimed that the opposition, with the support of the Bush administration in Washington, may try to sabotage the vote through violent protests. <BR/><BR/>US officials have called Mr Chavez' claims that Washington is conspiring to topple his government, and possibly backing plots to assassinate him, ridiculous. <BR/><BR/>KEY PROPOSALS <BR/>Indefinite re-election of president, term increased from 6 to 7 years <BR/>Central Bank's autonomy ended <BR/>Structure of country's administrative districts reorganised <BR/>Maximum working day cut from 8 hours to 6 <BR/>Voting age lowered from 18 to 16 <BR/>Social security benefits extended to workers in informal sector <BR/><BR/>Mr Chavez says the package of reforms is necessary to "construct a new socialist economy". <BR/><BR/>He has proposed 33 changes, and the National Assembly, which is composed of his supporters, put forward a further 36 amendments. <BR/><BR/>Mr Chavez' opponents have called for close monitoring of the ballot. Opinion polls have suggested that the result could be close, although surveys in the past have tended to underestimate the level of support Mr Chavez enjoys. <BR/><BR/>The BBC's Americas editor, Emilio San Pedro, says the elections are expected to be as free and fair as all previous ones since Mr Chavez came to power in 1998. <BR/><BR/>Working week <BR/><BR/>One proposal is to allow the president to stand for re-election an indefinite number of times. <BR/><BR/>Speaking on Friday, Mr Chavez said: "If God gives me life and help, I will be at the head of the government until 2050." He would be 95 years old. <BR/><BR/>Under the current constitution, Mr Chavez would have to stand down when his term expires at the end of 2012. <BR/><BR/>Other changes up for approval include giving the president control over the central bank, the creation of new provinces governed by centrally-appointed officials, and a reduction in the voting age from 18 to 16. <BR/><BR/>There are also proposals to expand presidential powers during natural disasters or political <BR/>"emergencies". <BR/><BR/>On the social front, changes include establishing a maximum six-hour working day and 36-hour working week, and widening social security benefit to workers in the informal economy. <BR/><BR/>A number of defections from the president's camp have encouraged opponents, but Mr Chavez has dismissed these one-time allies as traitors. <BR/><BR/>Story from BBC NEWS:<BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7123365.stm<BR/>Published: 2007/12/02 20:10:37 GMT<BR/><BR/><BR/>Q&A: Venezuela's referendum <BR/><BR/>On 2 December, Venezuelans will decide whether or not to approve a package of constitutional reforms, which include ending the limits on presidential terms. <BR/><BR/>The changes, which would affect about a quarter of the constitution's articles, were approved by the National Assembly, which is controlled by President Hugo Chavez's supporters. <BR/><BR/>The referendum is the last step needed for the changes to come into force. Around 60% of voters are expected to take part. <BR/><BR/>Doesn't Venezuela already have a new constitution? <BR/><BR/>Yes. President Chavez, who came to power in 1998, introduced a new "Bolivarian" constitution in 1999. He said the old one represented "the interests of the oligarchic sector". <BR/><BR/>But he now says more changes are needed to complete the transition to a "socialist republic". <BR/><BR/>The 1999 constitution increased the presidential term of office from five to six years and allowed a president to be re-elected once. <BR/><BR/>Under the previous constitution, the president could not be re-elected. <BR/><BR/>The 1999 constitution also introduced provisions for national presidential recall referendums, which means that Venezuelan voters have the right to remove their president from office before the expiration of the presidential term. <BR/><BR/>What are the main changes proposed? <BR/><BR/>Mr Chavez initially proposed amending 33 articles of the constitution, but the National Assembly added another 36 changes. <BR/><BR/>Among some of the main changes are: <BR/>Allowing the indefinite re-election of the president - not applicable to any other political post <BR/>Increasing the presidential term from six to seven years <BR/>Introducing changes to the country's administrative structure <BR/>Ending the autonomy of the central bank <BR/>Placing the president in charge of administering the country's international reserves <BR/>Reducing the maximum working week from 44 to 36 hours <BR/><BR/>Is President Chavez expected to win? <BR/><BR/>It is not clear. Unlike previous referendums and elections, when Mr Chavez always looked guaranteed to win, some polls have suggested he might actually lose. <BR/><BR/>This in itself is surprising, although it is difficult to say how reliable or objective these surveys are. <BR/><BR/>Does this mean that the opposition has become stronger? <BR/><BR/>The Venezuelan opposition won the support of 37% of voters at the last presidential election, but it has little power. <BR/><BR/>The National Assembly is fully controlled by Chavez supporters and the judicial system is heavily influenced by the president as well. The only mechanism the opposition has to voice its positions is the media. <BR/><BR/>Earlier this year, the most popular television station, RCTV, which in 2002 broadcast calls to overthrow Mr Chavez's administration, did not have its licence renewed. <BR/><BR/>Why then could Mr Chavez lose this time around? <BR/><BR/>The marches against the referendum have been led mainly by groups of opposition students, not the traditional opposition parties. <BR/><BR/>Also, some Chavez supporters are not convinced about the changes he wants to introduce, especially the indefinite re-election of the president. <BR/><BR/>Some mayors and governors are also unhappy with the administrative regions he wants to create. <BR/><BR/>Some analysts believe Mr Chavez is alienating his supporters. <BR/><BR/>General Raul Baduel, a former close supporter who served as defence minister, has likened the constitutional reform to a military coup. <BR/><BR/>President Chavez, sensing problems within his ranks, has repeatedly asked his allies to decide whether they are for or against him. <BR/><BR/>What happens if Mr Chavez loses? <BR/><BR/>His present presidential mandate expires in January 2013. However, this does not mean that if he loses he will be a lame-duck for the next five years. <BR/><BR/>The National Assembly has granted Mr Chavez an "enabling law" (ley habilitante), which allows him, over the period of one year, to pass laws on specified issues as decrees. The National Assembly could easily keep renewing this law. <BR/><BR/>But his defeat would nonetheless be a huge boost to the opposition, especially to the student groups which have been leading the marches. <BR/><BR/>These groups may become the main opposition voice given the disarray of the traditional parties and push for another recall referendum half-way through Mr Chavez's present mandate (in 2010) just like the opposition did in 2004. <BR/><BR/>President Chavez has said that if he loses it will be time to start looking for a successor. It is difficult to say if he was being serious, but one thing looks certain - Mr Chavez will not go without a fight. <BR/><BR/>Why does President Chavez have such a strong political base? <BR/><BR/>From 1958 until 1998, Venezuela was dominated by two major parties, the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (Copei) and the centre-left Democratic Action (AD). <BR/><BR/>After his victory in the 1998 election, Mr Chavez, who had previously tried to take control of the country in a failed military coup in 1992, set out to destroy this two-party system, which he described as oligarchic. <BR/><BR/>President Chavez has been working to set up a socialist republic by reforming the political and social systems. <BR/><BR/>He has nationalised key industries, such as telecommunications and electricity. He has also increased government control of the oil and gas sectors. <BR/><BR/>He has invested millions of dollars from Venezuela's oil revenues into social projects. <BR/><BR/>Since 2003, he has maintained a strict price regime on some basic foods like coffee, beans, sugar and powdered milk. This measure was designed to curb inflation, but it has also led to shortages of staple foods. <BR/><BR/>Today Venezuelan politics is divided between a pro- and an anti-Chavez camp. His supporters say he has given a political voice to millions of poor Venezuelans who were disregarded by the "traditional" political parties. <BR/><BR/>His opponents describe him as a populist who is looking to entrench himself in power. <BR/><BR/>Story from BBC NEWS:<BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7119371.stm<BR/>Published: 2007/11/30 14:46:40 GMT<BR/><BR/><BR/>Pro-Constitutional Reform Closes Campaign with Massive Rally in Venezuela <BR/><BR/>December 1st 2007, <BR/>by Kiraz Janicke <BR/>http://www.Venezuelanalysis.com <BR/><BR/>Caracas, December 1, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com) - In a hard-hitting speech Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told over 500,000 supporters at the final campaign rally in favor of the proposed constitutional reform on Friday, "If the ‘yes' vote wins on Sunday and the Venezuelan oligarchy, playing the [U.S.] empire's game, comes with their little stories of fraud," he will suspend all oil shipments to the U.S immediately. "The U.S. will not receive one drop of oil," he declared. Chavez also warned private media against promoting violence and destabilization after the referendum. <BR/><BR/>Beginning in the early hours of the morning, a sea of red filled Avenida Bolivar, the capital's principal boulevard and overflowed into Avenidas Mexico, Lecuna, San Martin, and Universidad, dwarfing an opposition rally of around 200,000 the day before, as Chavez supporters wearing T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Yes to the reforms' danced and sang as they waited for Chavez who spoke at 5 in the afternoon. <BR/><BR/>Perusing the crowd through a pair of binoculars, Chavez announced, "The avenida Bolivar is full, overflowing on the north and south, over there avenida Lecuna and avenida Universidad are full. The Bolivarian people are here saying ‘Yes.'" <BR/><BR/>Chavez told his supporters that the reforms which would reduce the work week to 36 hours, allow for presidential reelection, recognize new forms of property, and give more power to grass roots communal councils, will "open the path to socialism." <BR/><BR/>He also emphasized that the vote on Sunday represents more than simply a vote on the reforms. "To vote ‘yes', is a vote for Chavez and the revolution, to vote ‘No' is a vote for Bush," he said. <BR/><BR/>"We are not simply confronting the pawns of imperialism, those that play the dirty game of imperialism here," he said referring to the opposition, "Our true enemy is US imperialism." <BR/><BR/>"This Sunday we will give another knockout to George W. Bush." he added. <BR/><BR/>However, Chavez said, "No-one should be surprised if the anti-Chavistas refused to recognize the result," after a video released by Communications Minister Jesse Chacon on Thursday showed opposition leaders calling supporters to reject the results of the referendum on Sunday and create "pockets of protest" all around the country to generate a political crisis for the government. <BR/><BR/>"I hope this does not happen, but if it does, the revolutionary government will respond like it should, like a revolutionary government, together with the people," Chavez said and called on his supporters to stay mobilized in the streets after the referendum in order to prevent opposition inspired disturbances. <BR/><BR/>"They say they will only recognize the results if they win ... and they will take to the streets," Chavez told the rally. "Fine. We'll see you in the streets then, we are not afraid." <BR/><BR/>Amidst fears that Venezuela could descend into violence if the vote is close, including warnings of a potential civil war from Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, Chavez said, "My life belongs the the Venezuelan people. I am a soldier, and if I have to pick up a rifle to defend Venezuela, then I will." <BR/><BR/>Recalling the 2002 oil industry shutdown by the opposition, which caused an estimated $10 billion loss to the Venezuelan economy, Chavez said he had also ordered the military to secure oil fields and other installations on Sunday night to prevent any acts of sabotage. <BR/><BR/>He also spoke of the destabilization and misrepresentation of Venezuela by the international corporate media and threatened, "If any international channel comes here to take part in an operation by imperialism against Venezuela your reporters will be thrown out of the country, they will not be able to work here," Chavez said. "People at CNN, listen carefully: This is just a warning." <BR/><BR/>If the opposition private TV channel Globovision, "takes part in the game of imperialism" and if they violate Venezuelan law by publishing premature or false election results before polls close, they will be taken off air immediately, Chavez said as the crowd responded, chanting, "That is how one governs." <BR/><BR/>Dr Graciela Angarita, an <BR/>orthopedic surgeon who attended the rally also criticized the international media portrayal of Venezuela and told this publication that, "The truth is the majority of people support the president and the reforms." <BR/><BR/>"The government has done a lot for the people," she said and pointed to the social missions, which provide free education and healthcare. She explained that under previous governments there was a lot of repression and the poor were excluded. <BR/><BR/>"This is a revolution that is going to spread across all of Latin America," she added. <BR/><BR/>After the rally Chavez supporters took over Plaza Altimira in the upper middle-class, predominantly opposition suburb of Chacao in a street party that lasted late into the night. <BR/><BR/>Source URL: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2942Pan-African News Wirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958190577776906688noreply@blogger.com