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| Chavez: 'Reform timing a mistake' | Chavez: 'Reform timing a mistake' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he may have made a mistake in the timing of his planned constitutional changes, rejected by voters on Sunday. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he may have made a mistake in the timing of his planned constitutional changes, rejected by voters on Sunday. |
| Mr Chavez, speaking to state TV, said it was possible that Venezuela was not yet mature enough for socialism. | Mr Chavez, speaking to state TV, said it was possible that Venezuela was not yet mature enough for socialism. |
| Venezuelans voted 51% to 49% to reject the proposals, the first electoral defeat for Mr Chavez since he came to power in 1998. | Venezuelans voted 51% to 49% to reject the proposals, the first electoral defeat for Mr Chavez since he came to power in 1998. |
| The proposed changes included ending presidential term limits. | |
| Other proposals would have allowed the president to appoint local leaders under a redrawn political map and ended the central bank's autonomy. | Other proposals would have allowed the president to appoint local leaders under a redrawn political map and ended the central bank's autonomy. |
| Also proposed were a reduction in the working day to six hours, creating a social fund for informal workers, and further establishing community councils where residents can decide how to spend government money. | Also proposed were a reduction in the working day to six hours, creating a social fund for informal workers, and further establishing community councils where residents can decide how to spend government money. |
| The fractured opposition managed to mobilise its base | The fractured opposition managed to mobilise its base |
| The result surprised both the opposition and government camps. | The result surprised both the opposition and government camps. |
| Opponents to Mr Chavez appeared to have turned out in large numbers after a campaign led by students, who have become the most prominent voices of Venezuelan opposition. | Opponents to Mr Chavez appeared to have turned out in large numbers after a campaign led by students, who have become the most prominent voices of Venezuelan opposition. |
| But with an abstention rate of 44%, it seems that while some of Mr Chavez's supporters may still back him, they were less convinced by his proposed reforms. | But with an abstention rate of 44%, it seems that while some of Mr Chavez's supporters may still back him, they were less convinced by his proposed reforms. |
| Politically mature | Politically mature |
| President Chavez admitted that he needed to analyse why some of those who turned out to re-elect him with 63% of the vote last December did not turn out on Sunday. | President Chavez admitted that he needed to analyse why some of those who turned out to re-elect him with 63% of the vote last December did not turn out on Sunday. |
| And speaking to Venezuelan TV on Monday, Mr Chavez also admitted that it was perhaps not the right time to push through his socialist project. | And speaking to Venezuelan TV on Monday, Mr Chavez also admitted that it was perhaps not the right time to push through his socialist project. |
| "Perhaps I made a mistake in the timing of my proposals, that could be, that we are not politically mature enough," he said. | "Perhaps I made a mistake in the timing of my proposals, that could be, that we are not politically mature enough," he said. |
| "It's a challenge for us, we're going to convince those of our comrades who have doubts, those who have fears concerning socialism." | "It's a challenge for us, we're going to convince those of our comrades who have doubts, those who have fears concerning socialism." |
| But Mr Chavez has stressed that the battle to build socialism will continue and his reform proposal is still "alive". | But Mr Chavez has stressed that the battle to build socialism will continue and his reform proposal is still "alive". |
| Reactions | Reactions |
| The referendum result does not mean that Mr Chavez is losing his strong grip on power, BBC Americas reporter Julian Miglierini says. | The referendum result does not mean that Mr Chavez is losing his strong grip on power, BBC Americas reporter Julian Miglierini says. |
| The president's supporters still dominate the national assembly, a law passed in January allows him to govern by decree and his current presidential mandate lasts until 2013. | The president's supporters still dominate the national assembly, a law passed in January allows him to govern by decree and his current presidential mandate lasts until 2013. |
| 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 |
| Gen Raul Baduel, a former defence minister and ex-Chavez ally, urged the opposition to remain vigilant against further attempts to introduce reforms. | Gen Raul Baduel, a former defence minister and ex-Chavez ally, urged the opposition to remain vigilant against further attempts to introduce reforms. |
| "We need to remain conscious of the possibility that the president could attempt to reach the same results through the legislative process," he said. Among international reaction was a message from Cuban leader Fidel Castro who said his ally had shown "courage" and "dignity" in accepting defeat. | "We need to remain conscious of the possibility that the president could attempt to reach the same results through the legislative process," he said. Among international reaction was a message from Cuban leader Fidel Castro who said his ally had shown "courage" and "dignity" in accepting defeat. |
| Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is also trying to change his country's constitution, said: "If (Mr) Chavez were a dictator, he would never have presented his reforms to the people for consideration. | Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is also trying to change his country's constitution, said: "If (Mr) Chavez were a dictator, he would never have presented his reforms to the people for consideration. |
| For the US, the result showed that Venezuelans do not want "any further erosion in their democracy". | For the US, the result showed that Venezuelans do not want "any further erosion in their democracy". |
| "It looks like the people spoke their minds... and I think that bodes well for the country's future and freedom and liberty," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. | "It looks like the people spoke their minds... and I think that bodes well for the country's future and freedom and liberty," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. |