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Venezuela poll too close to call: officials
CARACAS
Petroleumworld.com 12 03 07
The result of a controversial referendum in Venezuela to expand President Hugo Chavez's powers was too close to decide, both government and opposition leaders said late Sunday.
"The result is neck-and-neck," said Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, who headed up Chavez's campaign.
Julio Borges, one of the leaders of the movement that opposed the referendum, also said "it is very tight."
Electoral workers were counting "yes" and "no" ballots into the night to determine the outcome of the closely fought duel, watched over by university students from the opposition camp and poll observers.
Win or lose, the closeness of the result represented a blow to Chavez, who had confidently predicted a 10-point lead going into Sunday's vote.
It was the biggest act of defiance he has ever faced at the ballot box in his eight years in power.
Chavez, a firebrand critic of the United States with ties to Iran and Cuba, was counting on winning the referendum to be able to stand for re-election indefinitely and gain even tighter control over his oil-rich country.
In past weeks, he had thrown his formidable charisma into the campaign to push his 69 constitutional changes through via the referendum, while opponents launched large protests, many of which deteriorated into street clashes with police.
Chavez called all those challenging his reforms "traitors" and warned that a "no" vote was a vote for US President George W. Bush and US "imperialism".
No exit poll data or official vote counts were released more than five hours after polls closed.
Venezuelans milled about on street corners anxiously awaiting news, while opposition leaders called on their followers to keep close eyes on the ballot boxes and voting stations.
"The voting is not over. We call on you to go back to the voting stations" to keep an eye on the counting, opposition leader Alfonso Marquina said on television.
If the "no" votes prevail, Chavez would see through his current mandate -- due to expire in January 2013 -- but he would then be required to step down, having reached his maximum two-term limit under the existing constitution.
The 53-year-old former paratrooper had said he wanted the constitution overhauled so he could seek re-election "until 2050" -- when he would be 95 -- and to impose "economic socialism" on the country.
The measures he put to the vote included giving the government the right to expropriate property, take over the central bank, and to gag the media in times of emergency.
Many segments of Venezuela's 27-million-strong population felt the measures went too far -- including many poor people considered traditional supporters of Chavez, and former allies, including former defense minister Raul Baduel.
The president said when he cast his ballot that he would "accept the result."
But he also warned during his campaign that he would halt oil exports to the United States if violence he suspects is being fomented by the US Central Intelligence Agency breaks out after the vote.
Story by Marc Burleigh from AFP
AFP 03 0149 GMT 12 07
Copyright© 2007 Petroleumworld. All rights reserved.
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