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Venez: Referendum Proceeds Calmly; Polls Close after People Still in Line
Vote
Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
CNN - Dec 2, 2007
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/12/02/venezuela.referendum/
Venezuelans vote on Chavez reforms
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelans turned out Sunday to vote on
whether to approve broad constitutional changes that would bolster
President Hugo Chavez's embrace of socialism and grant an indefinite
extension of his eligibility to serve as president.
It was not immediately clear how many of the 16 million Venezuelans
eligible to vote actually did so, but the president of the National
Electoral Counsel, Tibisay Lucena, said the process "shows the entire
world that we are a democratic country."
In Caracas, Chavez -- clad in his trademark red ****rt and cradling his
grandson -- made the sign of the cross and voted, then took his paper
ballot and placed it in a box.
"For me, it's a very happy day," he said.
He dipped his right pinky in ink, collected his paper receipt from the
voting machine and then gave an uncharacteristically short talk with
the news media.
"Let's wait for the results tonight," he told re****ters. "We'll accept
them, whatever they may be."
Chavez called Venezuela's electoral system "one of the most transparent
in the world," and said its voting machines are among "the most modern
of the world."
At stake are 69 amendments proposed by Chavez, who has said he wants to
steer Venezuela toward full socialism -- a state his detractors
describe as full totalitarianism.
The most controversial amendment would do away with term limits,
thereby allowing the 53-year-old former paratrooper, who has already
served almost eight years in power, to hold it indefinitely as long as
he is re-elected. If the amendments are approved, Chavez could run for
president in seven-year terms.
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.
In addition, the autonomous Central Bank would be placed under
presidential control, and the maximum working day would be cut from
eight hours to six hours.
Minimum voting age would also be cut from 18 years to 16 years.
As of 4 p.m. (2000 GMT), the voting centers were beginning to close to
new voters. Those with voters still in line were to remain open until
everyone had cast ballots.
In general, the process appeared orderly and calm and lines were not
long.
Former Defense Minister Raul Isaias Baduel said he was exiting a
polling booth in Maracay when an individual jumped from a car and came
at him. A group of people accompanying him "reacted, and some of them
had physical contact with the man," said Baduel, who recently retired
and has emerged as a leading critic of Chavez.
Four people were hurt, though he was not, he said. He did not describe
their injuries.
"What we are deciding today is of vital im****tance," he said. "At this
moment, what is in play is the future of our country, of our children
and of our children's children."
On Saturday, Chavez met with international re****ters and threatened
that any interference by the United States in the election would lead
him to halt sales of oil to the United States.
Chavez insists the majority of the country's 26 million people back
him. He has garnered overwhelming sup****t from the country's poorer
neighborhoods, who have benefited from his policies -- paid for by
skyrocketing oil prices.
Oil accounts for roughly 90 percent of the country's ex****t earnings,
according to the CIA World Factbook.
Despite the animosity that Chavez routinely aims at the United States,
the two countries remain closely tied economically -- the United States
is Venezuela's biggest oil customer and one of the few countries that
can refine its low-quality crude.
Venezuela accounts for up to 15 percent of U.S. crude im****ts.
[CNN's Harris Whitbeck contributed to this re****t.]
*
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