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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chavez defeated over reform vote | Chavez defeated over reform vote |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has narrowly lost a referendum on controversial constitutional changes. |
| Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said. | Voters rejected the sweeping reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said. |
| Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict. | Mr Chavez described the defeat as a "photo finish", and urged followers not to turn it into a point of conflict. |
| Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution". | Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put the brakes on Mr Chavez's "Socialist revolution". |
| "Don't feel sad," Mr Chavez told his supporters, saying there were "microscopic differences" between the "yes" and "no" options. | |
| He continued: "Now, Venezuelans, let's put our trust in our institutions." | |
| 'Too much power' | |
| With his raft of reforms, Mr Chavez was seeking an end to presidential term limits and the removal of the Central Bank's autonomy. | With his raft of reforms, Mr Chavez was seeking an end to presidential term limits and the removal of the Central Bank's autonomy. |
| KEY PROPOSALS Indefinite re-election of president, term increased from 6 to 7 yearsCentral Bank autonomy ended Structure of country's administrative districts reorganised Maximum working day cut from 8 hours to 6 Voting age lowered from 18 to 16Social security benefits extended to workers in informal sector Q&A: Venezuela's referendum | |
| But the result marks the president's first electoral reverse since he won power in an election in 1998. | But the result marks the president's first electoral reverse since he won power in an election in 1998. |
| Since then he has set about introducing sweeping changes in the country's laws aimed at redistributing the Venezuela's oil wealth to poorer farmers in rural areas. | |
| The main opposition parties had claimed during the referendum campaign that Mr Chavez was seeking to give himself too much power, and was trying to establish a dictatorship. | The main opposition parties had claimed during the referendum campaign that Mr Chavez was seeking to give himself too much power, and was trying to establish a dictatorship. |
| Mr Chavez said the package of reforms was necessary to "construct a new socialist economy". |