[R-G] Chavez loses vote

[aaron at istop.com]

This is from al-jezeera


Venezuelans have rejected constitutional changes proposed by Hugo Chavez, 
the president, in a close-run referendum, according to the National 
Electoral Council.
 
Chavez conceded defeat in a live broadcast on Monday, having narrowly lost a 
referendum on proposed changes to the constitution that included the removal 
of presidential term limits.
 
  
 

The electoral authority announced early on Monday the "No" camp had won 51 
per cent of the vote compared to the pro-Chavez "Yes" camp's 49 per cent.
 
It said the trend could not be reserved and declared Chavez the loser.
 
  
 
 
 
 
The referendum vote on a number of changes would have allowed Chavez to 
control Venezuela's foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over 
regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency.
 
It would also have allowed him to run for re-election indefinitely.
 
But Students, rights groups, business lobbies, opposition parties, the Roman 
Catholic Church and former political allies all lined up against Chavez 
ahead of the referendum, calling the proposed changes authoritarian.
 
Even Chavez's usually loyal ex-wife voted against his reforms.
 
"This was a photo finish," Chavez said immediately after the vote, adding 
that his respect for the results proved that, unlike past Venezuelan 
governments, he respects the will of the people.
 
He said he would "continue in the battle to build socialism" and told his 
supporters: "Don't feel sad".
 
It was the first victory for an emboldened opposition against Chavez after 
nine years of electoral defeats.
 
Chavez remains popular in Venezuela, especially with the country's poor, but 
defeat will likely put him under pressure to slow or halt his self-declared 
socialist revolution and step down when his term ends in 2013.