Venezuela: Voters Say NO to Hugo Chavez and Indefinite Re-Election …Socialism

The people have spoken and they say “NO” to Hugo Chavez. Victory for the Venezuelan people … Hugo Chavez may have bit off more than he could chew this time. Hey Hugo Chavez … this is going to leave a mark.

President Hugo Chavez said Monday he may have been too ambitious in asking voters to let him stand indefinitely for re-election and endorse a huge leap to a socialist state. (Yahoo News)

Voters of Venezuela voted 51% to 49% defeating Chazez’s referendum that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely and impose a socialist system. At present, the president’s term runs six years, and current law would not allow Chavez to run again after his term ends in 2012. Chavez will not be allowed to run in 2012 for re-election. Think there is not a sigh of relief today at the US State Department and the White House?

Voters defeated the sweeping measures Sunday by a vote of 51 percent to 49 percent, said Tibisay Lucena, chief of the National Electoral Council, with voter turnout at just 56 percent.

She said that with 88 percent of the votes counted, the trend was irreversible.

Opposition supporters shouted with joy as Lucena announced the results on national television early Monday, their first victory against Chavez after nine years of electoral defeats.

Some broke down in tears. Others began chanting “And now he’s going away!” (Fox News)

What does it mean for the people of Venezuela?

The changes would have created new forms of communal property, let Chavez handpick local leaders under a redrawn political map, permit civil liberties to be suspended under extended states of emergency and allow Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely.  Now, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012.

Other changes would have shortened the workday from eight hours to six, created a social security fund for millions of informal laborers and promoted communal councils where residents decide how to spend government funds. The reforms would also have granted Chavez control over the Central Bank and extended presidential terms from six to seven years.

Voters reject Chavez’s referendum

The way this article is written, CNN almost sounds sad they democracy prevailed. As the Gateway Pundit stated, “Hollywood must be in tears”.

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) — Venezuelan voters narrowly rejected a constitutional referendum that would have bolstered President Hugo Chavez’s embrace of socialism and granted an indefinite extension of his eligibility to serve as president, the National Electoral Council reported early Monday.

Other bloggers covering the story:

• Gateway Pundit: Doing the Marxist Slide
• Red State: ¡NO!
• Michelle Malkin: Hugo’s power grab: ¿Si o No?
• Hot Air: Official: Chavez loses referendum vote