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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Chavez defeated over reform vote | Chavez defeated over reform vote |
| (30 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 raft of reforms by a margin of 51% to 49%, the chief of the National Electoral Council said. | Voters rejected the raft of 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 a brake on Mr Chavez's self-styled "Socialist revolution". | Correspondents say the opposition could barely hide their delight and that the victory will put a brake on Mr Chavez's self-styled "Socialist revolution". |
| Celebrations by the opposition began almost immediately in the capital, Caracas, with activists cheering, beeping car horns and waving flags. | Celebrations by the opposition began almost immediately in the capital, Caracas, with activists cheering, beeping car horns and waving flags. |
| "Venezuela won today, democracy won today, and I am sure that this victory for the Venezuelan people will have a very important impact in the rest of Latin America," Leopoldo Lopez, opposition mayor of Caracas' Chaqua municipality, told the BBC. | |
| Mr Chavez swiftly conceded and urged the opposition to show restraint. | Mr Chavez swiftly conceded and urged the opposition to show restraint. |
| "To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them," he said. "I ask all of you to go home, know how to handle your victory." | "To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them," he said. "I ask all of you to go home, know how to handle your victory." |
| He insisted that he would "continue in the battle to build socialism". | He insisted that he would "continue in the battle to build socialism". |
| "Don't feel sad," he told his supporters, saying there were "microscopic differences" between the "yes" and "no" options. | "Don't feel sad," he told his supporters, saying there were "microscopic differences" between the "yes" and "no" options. |
| He said the reforms had failed "for now" but they were "still alive". | He said the reforms had failed "for now" but they were "still alive". |
| 'Too much power' | 'Too much power' |
| The result marks the president's first electoral reverse since he won power in an election in 1998. | The result marks the president's first electoral reverse since he won power in an election in 1998. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Since then he has set about introducing sweeping changes in the country's laws aimed at redistributing Venezuela's oil wealth to poorer farmers in rural areas. | Since then he has set about introducing sweeping changes in the country's laws aimed at redistributing Venezuela's oil wealth to poorer farmers in rural areas. |
| Just a year ago, he was re-elected with 63% of the vote. | Just a year ago, he was re-elected with 63% of the vote. |
| With his constitutional reform proposals, Mr Chavez was seeking an end to presidential term limits and the removal of the Central Bank's autonomy. | With his constitutional reform proposals, Mr Chavez was seeking an end to presidential term limits and the removal of the Central Bank's autonomy. |
| Having lost the vote, the current rules state that he will have to stand down in 2013. | Having lost the vote, the current rules state that he will have to stand down in 2013. |
| 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". | Mr Chavez said the package of reforms was necessary to "construct a new socialist economy". |
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