Poll open in Venezuela's constitutional referendum

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Poll open in Venezuela's constitutional referendum
26 mins ago

CARACAS (AFP) – Polls opened in Venezuela early Sunday as voters began casting ballots in a referendum on constitutional changes, which would allow President Hugo Chavez to seek re-election without limits.

More than 16 million Venezuelans are eligible to take part in what is expected to be a tightly-fought battle in the increasingly polarized country.

Chavez, popular with the country's poor for health and education programs and blamed by a vocal opposition for rising crime, corruption and inflation, recently celebrated 10 years in power.

He was first elected to his post in 1998 and reelected in 2006.

Undecided voters will play a key role in the vote on scrapping electoral term limits, pollsters said at the end of the campaign, with Chavez showing a slight lead among those who had already decided.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090215/ts_afp/venezuelaeuropediplomacyspain

[Judi Lynn]

1. Venezuelans to vote on term limits for elected officials

updated 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Venezuelans to vote on term limits for elected officials

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelans will decide Sunday whether to change the constitution to allow President Hugo Chavez and other elected officials to run for office indefinitely.

The National Assembly approved the referendum last month. Venezuelans narrowly rejected a similar measure in December 2007.

Results from this weekend's balloting are expected from the National Electoral Council on Monday morning. If it passes, Chavez could run for a third consecutive six-year term in 2012.

Chavez called for the referendum in late November, a week after candidates he supported won a majority of the seats in local elections. The elections had been seen as a test of his influence.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/15/venezuela.referendum/index.html

[byeya]

2. The South American regional bank, replacing the IMF, and

close ties and solidarity in S.A. would not have come about without Chavez. Even the invasion by Columbia into its neighboring country pursuing FARC was negotiated to a peaceful resolution by Venezuela and affected countries with the USA a non factor. I hope Pres Chavez wins the referendum.
Notice that elections in South America usually take place on Sunday so workers have a better chance to get to the polls.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You'll have a lot of other DU'ers looking for the results with you, byeya.

Hope we've got that good news we need to hear this evening.

Welcome to D.U. :hi:

[byeya]

4. Thanks; that's kind of you. I think a multi-polar world

will be a better place than it has been with the USA as its hub. South America has largely freed itself from the IMF thanks to the South American leaders who seized the moment when the corrupt IMF lost 80% of its funds and Bu$h bumbled away the USA's financial clout. Now the South Americans have responsibility for their destiny and I wish them well. I don't think a reconstituted 4th Fleet will strike fear into these countries as it once did because there's little behind the gunboats; east and south Asia have emerged as significant financial centers; Europe is coming together; and the USA is bankrupt.
Maybe they will mess up; maybe not, but at least the South Americans have an historic chance at self determination.

[JohnnyCougar]

5. I kind of hope it doesn't pass

As much as I will eagerly defend Chavez against the outrageous charges levied against him by the US government and the world media, I really do think that Chavez would set a good example by stepping down after two terms and not running again. If the voters liked what he was doing, they could elect someone else from his same political party to continue his policies.

[EFerrari]

7. I'd like him to have a third term because it's been fascinating watching him.

Mostly though, I want the voting to go well.

[rabs]

9. So far all is going smoothly

There is a minute-by-minute account here:

http://www.vtv.gov.ve/noticias-nacionales/14558

About a dozen incidents have been reported, machine glitches and some people ripping up ballots. By noon, 40 percent reported to have voted.

Alcohol sales have been banned since 2 p.m. Friday, and will not resume until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Carrying of weapons by civilians also banned.

Caracas subway is free today so people can go to vote. Buses are also ferrying some people to polling stations.

There are 98 observers from 25 countries. Make that 97, a Euro deputy from Spain was hustled out of a hotel and taken to Maiquitia airport Friday night. He was put aboard a Varig flight to Sao Paulo. The deputy criticized the extension of voting by two hours and referred to Chavez as a "dictator." It was the head of the electoral commission who ordered his expulsion.

First results are expected two to three hours after polls close, 6 p.m. Venezuela time.

Online TV servers out of Venezuela are overloaded, so have not been able to watch live.

Btw EF, thanks for the welcome on another thread.

[EFerrari]

10. Thank you! A que horas do the polls close, US time?

Iirc, in 2007 it was at about 2pm Pacific?

It's amazing that public transportation is free there today. It's too bad our own citizens have to fight so hard simply to cast their votes on working days.

[rabs]

14. Venezuela has an unusual time zone

It is currently 30 minutes ahead of Eastern time U.S.

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_VE.aspx

Looks like first results should be be around 5:30-6:30 Pacific. In 2007, it would have been two hours earlier, but voting has been extended by two hours this time.

Yes, in several countries in Latam voting is conducted on a Sunday. All campaigning is ended on the previous Friday and people gather after voting to watch the results, without having to take time off from work, or having to return to work.

Civilized way of voting, IMO.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for the update, and additional information.

The episode concerning a heavily biased observer from Spain was unique, to say the least. Of course the opposition would find a man connected to the party of Francisco Franco just the guy to invite to help oversee their referendum! Yikes.

I appreciate the link you posted. Relly nice. Thanks.

[rabs]

17. This reminds me of another "yes" or "no" vote

In Oct. 1988 Chileans voted in a plebiscite over whether to allow Pinochet to stay in office. The difference to what is occurring today in Venezuela is that it was a plebiscite, which are non-binding.

In Venezuela, it is a referendum on the constitution, which carries the weight of law if it is approved.

Chileans voted "no" against Pinochet 56 percent to 44 percent. It was later discovered that Pinochet, furious, was going to carry out a "self-coup" to perpetrate himself in power. At about 1 a.m. after the day of voting, the commanders of the air force and navy went to La Moneda presidential palace and forced Pinochet to accept the result.

To those who have misgivings about the Venezuela referendum, there is a saying in Spanish:

"Cada pueblo tiene el gobierno que merece." (Each peoples have the government they deserve.)**

So if the referendum passes or is rejected, the people have spoken. It is their government, no one else's.


** (With the exception of the two stolen Bush elections in the U.S.)

(Hey, tres corazoncitos !! Thank you, muchas gracias, muito obrigado.)

[Judi Lynn]

27. Didn't know about that plebecite. It's good to find out now, however.

Going to remember that situation, with real satisfaction.

Is this link I got from your post elsewhere on this thread a live program?

http://www.vtv.gov.ve/envivo.html

I have a hard time following as it's been a long time since I took the language in school, but the people they're interviewing in the street, the Chavistas are so HAPPY!

Sure hope I'm seeing this correctly.

On edit:

They are crowded onto the streets, yelling, laughing, celebrating.

[harmonicon]

8. what if FDR had stepped down after two terms?

[iandhr]

23. DO NOT COMPARE

HUGO to FDR.

[harmonicon]

33. because why?

Because the comparison is apt and that frightens you? Because one saved his country 70 years ago and the other is saving his country today?

[Judi Lynn]

24. Both despised by fascist assholes. n/t

[Towlie]

6. Question: Why does the article call Chávez "the anti-liberal leader"? What does that mean?

[Judi Lynn]

11. You're not acquainted with "spin?"

Just last week during another attempt by the media to attack Hugo Chavez's govrnment as being responsible for the vandalism upon a Caracas synagogue, due to Chavez' condemnation of Israel's treatment of the citizens of Gaza, a vicious campaign of accuasations conducted by the media, Caracas Rabbi Elias Farache finally made a public statement, after the government's investigation produced a group of people who assisted a former bodyguard of the synagogue's rabbi who bore a grudge against him.

It was carried in some sources, while other prominant newspapers continued to run with the hate campaign instead to get as much mileage as possible before admitting the truth. From an article posted here already by DU'er Peace Patriot which many of us read:

"With regard to the government’s supposed culpability in the attack, Farache denied such considerations, saying, 'We do not accuse the government. It would not be logical for us to be attacked by a government that is liberal, … that has above all always been in favor of minorities.'”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x1146

Where are you attempting to go with that question? Are you unaware of Venezuela's history? You have a LOT of research ahead of you if you are, getting the picture straightened out. This will take your personal involvement.

[Towlie]

20. What? "Where am I attempting to go with that question?" I just want a civil and intelligible answer.

I'm not sure what it means to be attempting to go somewhere with a question, but the response from Judi Lynn was confusing, condescending, and totally unhelpful, plus it included gratuitous and totally inappropriate abuse. It's disconcerting to be attacked like that for asking a simple innocent question.

Worse, I still don't have an answer that I can make sense of. The short thread she linked to at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x1146 doesn't contain anything useful.

Could someone else please jump in and help?

[devilgrrl]

12. Hugo Chavez is the devil! He's going to steal this election! And then eat everyone!

:scared:

[Judi Lynn]

15. He'll grab their guns, and their Bibles. He'll take their children. n/t

[devilgrrl]

16. He'll make everyone get educated and stuff! Then everyone will have abortions and be homosexual!!!!!

:scared:

[EFerrari]

18. Today, a NYTs editorial said he kidnapped the HRWs guys.

lol

At least they didn't publish a call to arms against Venezuela by Rumsfeld this time. Baby steps! :sarcasm:

Correction,: That editorial printed on the 13th. ef

[devilgrrl]

19. Hugo Chavez routinely kidnaps Christian babies and gives their blood to the Jews!!!!

:sarcasm:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

32. You know it's not everyone. Just the Christian white ones. -nt

[Judi Lynn]

21. Chaderton: Herrero violated the rules of discretion of an observer

CARACAS, Sunday February 15, 2009
Chaderton: Herrero violated the rules of discretion of an observer

Venezuela’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Roy Chaderton underlined that the role of observers is precisely to observe and then submit their respective reports

Politics
Venezuela's Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Roy Chaderton rebutted on Sunday the remarks made by Spanish Deputy and member of the European Parliament Luis Herrero, who was evicted from the country.

"Curiously, an alleged Euro-deputy accompanied the opposition and was doing a series of accusations against the president, in violation of all the constitutional and electoral provisions in our country," he said.

"Unbelievable, before being accredited as such, somebody qualified as observer violates the standards on discretion. He was an observer, therefore, he could not take part in the election campaign," said Chaderton.

More:
http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/02/15/en_pol_esp_chaderton:-herrero-v_15A2227217.shtml
(opposition newspaper)

[iandhr]

22. Didn't he try this last year

trying to eliminate term limits. It like he will do this every year until the voters "get it right" I hate power grabs whether they be on the right or the left. Chavex is no Democrat

[Judi Lynn]

25. You should have taken the time last year to be informed on what was going on then.

What the country voted upon was a package of 69 SEPARATE ITEMS covering a wide range of topics. Why didn't you take the time to find out about any part of it beyond the 1/69th part concerning term limits?

When the referendum lost by only a percent, all 69 issues were lost at once, not only one of them. It was an entire slate.

When idiots keep repeating the lie they only reveal their total lack of information on the process. What a pathetic shame.

[EFerrari]

26. Why would Chavez be a Democrat? n/t

[iandhr]

28. because

tear gas get fired on peaceful protesters and he tires he questions the loyalty of his opposition. Its a shame he called Bush the devil and the other things that he said about him. They have so much in common

[EFerrari]

29. What?!

Why would his opposition be loyal to him?!

Btw, the Gucci protesters in the opposition have set fires and destroyed property all around their private schools.

You really need to stop watching Faux News.

[iandhr]

31. I do not watch fox news

[Judi Lynn]

30. Do you have any link to news on Chavez' firing on peaceful protesters you could share?

You'd be doing everyone a favor if you posted this information.

When youo read the information on the "devil" comment you overlooked the fact the General Assembly at the U.N. burst into laughter.

When Ecuador's President Rafael Correa was asked about the comment, he said it's an insult to the devil.

You ARE aware, are you not, of what _{George W. Bush} has done to destabilize Hugo Chavez' government throughout the entire span of his wretched, stolen Presidency, aren't you? You should make some effort to know more about the subject you attempt to discuss.

[devilgrrl]

35. I hear that Hugo Chavez undoes his drawers and literally pees on people!!!!!

He evil!

:scared:

[Mika]

34. News just in, heard this on Miamicuban exile radio: Fights at Miami-Dade college polls.

Some Bolivarian communists dared show up to vote wearing their red shirts.

Police quickly broke things up. No arrests.

I heard a 20 second audio snip interview with an irate anti Chavez voter on the scene saying that all communists and Castro lovers (like the young Bolivarians) should be hung like Saddam.

Hoo boy! What a town. :crazy: