Referendum: Venezuela nearly turned socialist

At 1:15 AM on Monday 3 December 2007, the Venezuelan Electoral body (CNE) issued its first official preliminary report. The Venezuelan referendum on Constitutional reform- 69 articles- consisted of two proposals.  President Hugo Chavez made one proposal and the Venezuelan Congress or National Assembly made a second one.   Unlike previous reports from international agencies such as Reuters and Aljazeera, just over 50.70% - 4 million five hundred voters-rejected the proposals made by President Chavez while 49% approved it. Proposals made by the National Assembly for a Constitutional reform were rejected by 51%  of the votes. Turn out during the referendum was just over 55% of the 16 million electorate. Such outcome and participation shows how a portion of Venezuelan society is ideologically divided while another big section is somehow unconvinced by politics.

This is the first time in nine years the opposition manages to win an election. During a televised message from the Presidential Palace, President Hugo Chavez readily acknowledged defeat and congratulated the opposition. He would not be able to remain in office indefinitely. His administration would now confront further pressure over its social programme efficiency.  One of the outcomes of the opposition victory is the emergence of a new student leadership. They might become meaningful actors in the years to come if allowed to mature outside the aegis of traditional parties. Caracas and other cities in Venezuela celebrate the victory of the opposition.   

More news to come

Sources: CNE, Globovision, Telesur, El Universal, Prinside, RNV, VTV, VIVE, ABN,   

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