Chavez belittles opposition win

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7130347.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lashed out at his opponents and vowed to pursue plans for constitutional reform despite his referendum defeat.

Speaking on state television, Mr Chavez used offensive language to heap scorn on the opposition's surprise victory.

Mr Chavez also denied reports he had been pressured by the military to accept defeat in Sunday's vote.

Venezuelans voted 51% to 49% against the proposals, which included ending presidential term limits.

When he first acknowledged defeat, Mr Chavez had adopted a calm and measured tone, accepting the outcome as a "decision the people have made".

Options

But on Wednesday, speaking at a televised news conference alongside armed forces chiefs, he decried the opposition's success as "a shit victory".

The defeat of his plans, by contrast, was "courageous, full of valour, of dignity", he said.

"Get ready because a new offensive is coming," said Mr Chavez, stressing that he would not give up on plans to introduce sweeping changes to the constitution.

<a href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_venezuelan_reaction/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_venezuelan_reaction/html/1.stm', '1196802953', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;"></a>Venezuelans react to poll defeat for Chavez.<a href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_venezuelan_reaction/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_venezuelan_reaction/html/1.stm', '1196802953', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures</a>

The BBC's James Ingham says in reality, Mr Chavez has limited options, some of which could be risky.

The president has suggested that his supporters might take his ideas and modify them to make them simpler.

A petition signed by 15% of voters could demand that a new referendum be looked at.

Mr Chavez could also change some laws by decree or set up a constituent assembly elected by voters which would write a new constitution.

But the opposition, previously fractured and plagued by infighting, has been strengthened, our correspondent says.

Nevertheless, Mr Chavez's supporters still dominate the national assembly and his current presidential mandate lasts until 2013.

If the reforms had been passed, he would have been able to seek re-election indefinitely.

The 69 proposed reforms also included:

<ul class="bulletList"><li>central bank's autonomy to be ended <li>president to appoint local leaders under a redrawn political map <li> community councils to be established further, allowing residents to decide how to spend government money<li>social fund for informal workers to be set up<li> working day to be cut to six hours</ul>

During his television appearance, Mr Chavez and his Defence Minister, Gustavo Rangel Briceno, also rejected reports that high-ranking military officers had pressured him to concede victory in the early hours of Monday.

The result was a blow to Mr Chavez, who had previously secured convincing victories in elections and referendums, including his triumph last December in the presidential poll with 63% of the vote.