P
Patriot Games
Guest
http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/chavez_vote_venezuela/2007/12/03/54245.html
U.S.: Venezuela Vote a Message to Chavez
Monday, December 3, 2007
The United States on Monday said Venezuelan voters had sent President Hugo
Chavez a clear message by rejecting his push for broader powers in a weekend
ballot that "bodes well" for "freedom and liberty."
"Clearly this is a message from the Venezuelan people that they do not want
any further erosion in their democracy and their democratic institutions,"
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said after the referendum.
"The people spoke their minds, and they voted against the reforms that Hugo
Chavez had recommended and I think that bodes well" for the country's future
as well as "freedom and liberty," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
The US officials spoke after Chavez acknowledged his first-ever defeat at
the polls after the weekend referendum, which would also have turned
oil-rich Venezuela into a socialist state, went down to defeat by a narrow
51-49 margin.
"The Venezuelan people have spoken. We have no reason to doubt that this
outcome reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," McCormack told
reporters, saying of Chavez "I can't predict what course he may try to
follow."
It was the first time that Chavez, a charismatic left-wing firebrand who
frequently criticizes US President George W. Bush, has lost at the polls
since he came to power in 1999. His past elections have been easy victories.
"It was a close vote, 51 percent, and that's despite the opposition not
being able to get out on TV and make its point. So I think that there's some
interesting analysis that can be done there by political experts," said
Perino.
Asked whether Washington was satisfied with the results, McCormack replied
that "it's not for us to judge" but that the vote showed that Venezuelan
voters "do in fact want to have a say on how they are governed and who
governs them."
Chavez, whose ties to Iran and Cuba irritate Washington, had been counting
on the referendum to continue his rule beyond January 2013, when he must
step down under the current constitutional two-term limit.
The 53-year-old former paratrooper had said he wanted the constitution
overhauled so he could seek re-election "until 2050" -- when he would be 95.
He had also wanted to gain even tighter control over the country by putting
more of the military under his command, permitting media censorship in times
of emergency and scrapping the central bank's autonomy.
But street protests started by university students put paid to those
ambitions, growing into the grassroots opposition movement that eventually
vanquished him at the polls.
His exhortations that a "no" vote would be a vote for Bush and US
"imperialism" failed to carry the day in his favor.
There was a disturbing few hours after the vote, however, during which the
government gave no results whatsoever and Chavez pondered what to do.
"I tell you from the heart: for a few hours I debated with myself, in a
dilemma," Chavez said. "I've now left the dilemma behind and I'm calm. I
hope the Venezuelans are as well."
He added: "Now, Venezuelans, let's put our trust in our institutions."
Opposition members and sympathizers immediately celebrated their victory,
setting off fireworks in Caracas and filling the streets with cheers and
whistles.
Chavez supporters, in contrast, looked despondent in their red campaign
colors, their "yes" flags and banners lowered.
U.S.: Venezuela Vote a Message to Chavez
Monday, December 3, 2007
The United States on Monday said Venezuelan voters had sent President Hugo
Chavez a clear message by rejecting his push for broader powers in a weekend
ballot that "bodes well" for "freedom and liberty."
"Clearly this is a message from the Venezuelan people that they do not want
any further erosion in their democracy and their democratic institutions,"
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said after the referendum.
"The people spoke their minds, and they voted against the reforms that Hugo
Chavez had recommended and I think that bodes well" for the country's future
as well as "freedom and liberty," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
The US officials spoke after Chavez acknowledged his first-ever defeat at
the polls after the weekend referendum, which would also have turned
oil-rich Venezuela into a socialist state, went down to defeat by a narrow
51-49 margin.
"The Venezuelan people have spoken. We have no reason to doubt that this
outcome reflects the will of the Venezuelan people," McCormack told
reporters, saying of Chavez "I can't predict what course he may try to
follow."
It was the first time that Chavez, a charismatic left-wing firebrand who
frequently criticizes US President George W. Bush, has lost at the polls
since he came to power in 1999. His past elections have been easy victories.
"It was a close vote, 51 percent, and that's despite the opposition not
being able to get out on TV and make its point. So I think that there's some
interesting analysis that can be done there by political experts," said
Perino.
Asked whether Washington was satisfied with the results, McCormack replied
that "it's not for us to judge" but that the vote showed that Venezuelan
voters "do in fact want to have a say on how they are governed and who
governs them."
Chavez, whose ties to Iran and Cuba irritate Washington, had been counting
on the referendum to continue his rule beyond January 2013, when he must
step down under the current constitutional two-term limit.
The 53-year-old former paratrooper had said he wanted the constitution
overhauled so he could seek re-election "until 2050" -- when he would be 95.
He had also wanted to gain even tighter control over the country by putting
more of the military under his command, permitting media censorship in times
of emergency and scrapping the central bank's autonomy.
But street protests started by university students put paid to those
ambitions, growing into the grassroots opposition movement that eventually
vanquished him at the polls.
His exhortations that a "no" vote would be a vote for Bush and US
"imperialism" failed to carry the day in his favor.
There was a disturbing few hours after the vote, however, during which the
government gave no results whatsoever and Chavez pondered what to do.
"I tell you from the heart: for a few hours I debated with myself, in a
dilemma," Chavez said. "I've now left the dilemma behind and I'm calm. I
hope the Venezuelans are as well."
He added: "Now, Venezuelans, let's put our trust in our institutions."
Opposition members and sympathizers immediately celebrated their victory,
setting off fireworks in Caracas and filling the streets with cheers and
whistles.
Chavez supporters, in contrast, looked despondent in their red campaign
colors, their "yes" flags and banners lowered.
