Chavez Wins Venezuela Referendum-Preliminary Result

Reuters ^ | 16AUG04 | Reuters

[GeronL]

CD Claims Vote Fraud

The CD says the results are exactly the opposite based on : Exit polls and the addition of all of the final results of all of the polling stations in the country added by Sumate. They said that the two CNE Directors that are not pro-Chavez were not allowed in the totalling of the data of the CNE. There was no audit of the paper ballots and this was a gigantic fraud. Nothing yet from OAS and the Carter Center. I hear two different rumors, one that at ten AM ther willbe a press conference, two, that OAS may leave the country without saying anything a la Peru. Very sad and confusing outcome. This is the worst possible. The Cd also said they will ask for the addition of all paper ballots printed by the voting machines.

http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/

[GeronL]

http://caracaschronicles.blogspot.com/

Worst Case Scenario
It's the very worst thing that could've happened. CNE head Francisco Carrasquero, by himself, announces a set of partial results that give the government a huge advantage. The opposition CNE members immediately say the announcement was made without following proper procedures. The opposition cries foul, and announces mirror-image results. The Carter Center/OAS mission is missing in action, at least at first.

This is the single worst thing that could've happened. The referendum was meant to bring closure to the governance crisis in Venezuela. With contested results made on the basis of a fishy procedure, the referendum has taken Venezuela further away from closure, not closer.

These are dangerous days for Venezuela, dangerous hours. The potential for violence is high. The opposition cannot, will not accept these results. And chavismo, surely enough, will not accept their reversal. In other words, God only knows how the referendum will go down in history, but it will not go down as the peaceful, constitutional, electoral and democratic solution to the crisis that was the once chance the country had of avoiding both dictatorship and civil war.

There could, I suppose, still be a 13th hour surprise. But Jimmy Carter and Cesar Gaviria are diplomats, not miracle workers.

Pray for Venezuela, folks...it's going to get ugly

[GeronL]

http://www.vcrisis.com/

Is Chavez stealing the election? I have received a phone call in the middle of the night (presently as I write it is 4:30AM). Carrasquero, ALONE, has announced 4.8 million for the NO to 3.2 for the SI. Interestingly it is the same result I went to bed with, but in the reverse order

[The Scourge of Yazid]

We're in for a sh**storm folks.

I just want to be ready when this demented midget makes his getaway for the presidential palace.

[Simmy2.5]

Chavez stealing the election? How could this be? Jimmy Carter is there!

Seriously, what's going to happen in Venezuela soon will not be good.

[AmericaUnited]

Jimmy "THE DAMN IDIOT AND FOOL" to the rescue once again.

[steveegg]

Oil Falls from Record as Chavez Survives

A temporary drop in price.

[risk]

James Earl Carter, 39th president.

[Truth29]

Jimmy Carter will not be trying to assure a fair and accurate result. He will be working diligently to legitimize Chavez and to state that any "irregularities" did not affect the outcome IMHO.