Posted on 08/16/2004 8:37:15 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's left-wing President Hugo Chavez on Monday declared victory in a historic recall referendum on his rule, but his opponents vowed to challenge vote results they rejected as a "gigantic fraud."
With 94 percent of electoral rolls counted, 58 percent of voters cast ballots against removing Chavez from office, said National Electoral Council President Francisco Carrasquero.
Chavez, a populist ex-army officer who survived a coup two years ago, appeared on the balcony of his Miraflores presidential palace and led hundreds of supporters in singing the national anthem before dawn.
"The Venezuelan people have spoken and the people's voice is the voice of God!" roared Chavez, who has diverted wealth from oil sales to housing, food and medical care for the poor majority.
But international observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, had yet to give their final verdict and opposition leaders said the official results were a fraud engineered through the use of electronic voting machines.
"We firmly and categorically reject the result. ... We're going to collect the evidence to prove to Venezuela and the world the gigantic fraud which has been committed against the will of the people," said opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup.
The judgment of international observers, including the Organization of American States, could be key to stability in the world's No. 5 oil exporter. Carter and the OAS have worked for more than a year to end Venezuela's crisis.
"With the sides now so polarized, a decision either way could trigger unrest," Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Jan Dehn said in a research note on Monday.
TWO YEARS OF CONFRONTATION
The recall was the latest chapter in more than two years of often violent confrontation between Chavez and his critics who brand him a dangerous tyrant bent on reshaping his oil-rich nation into a Cuba-style communist state.
The vote had stoked fears of renewed violence, especially if the results were close. But the opposition had not called any protests as of early on Monday. Oil markets worried that a Chavez defeat could trigger unrest in the military and the state oil firm PDVSA.
Oil prices sat near record highs over $46 a barrel even though news Chavez had won and would serve out his term until 2007 calmed jitters over disruptions to shipments from Venezuela, a key supplier to the U.S. market.
A loose coalition of disparate political parties, labor unions and civilian groups, the opposition is often united only by its hatred of Chavez. They had struggled to present a clear alternative to his leftist "revolution" for the poor.
A clean victory for Chavez could leave his critics with few options but to regroup before congressional elections next year and a presidential election in 2006.
In a rare conciliatory gesture, Chavez called during his speech for applause for his opponents. But he vowed to intensify his social reforms.
Chavez, who tried to seize power in a coup in 1992 but won a presidential election in 1998, is detested by Venezuela's traditional ruling elite, who say he has squandered the world's largest oil reserves outside the Middle East.
He was briefly overthrown in a military coup two years ago but returned in triumph after poor supporters flooded central Caracas and loyal troops backed him.
Chavez, a friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro (news - web sites), has blamed President Bush (news - web sites) for backing the coup against him and accused him of funding the opposition. But he has been careful to guarantee oil supplies to the United States.
This was predicted by many. Only a fool like Danny Ortega would allow a free election and look what happened to him...
I don't know whats going on down there but at around 10 PM last night they were saying that exit polls showed 60% calling for him to step down.
This morning the reports say a sudden rush of voters forced the polls to stay open past midnight.
He's right, the Venenzualans have spoken so let them taste the bitter sweet medicine of a faultering socialist economy for another couple of years.
Stupid Carter is now in a little bind. Does he back his socialist buddy in the lie or does he go with the people?
I know exactly what is going on. This is soooo banana republic.
This is what American elections would look like in the future had SCOTUS had ruled differently in the 2000 election.
If you don't get the votes you need, keep the polls open till you do.
"It's not who votes but who counts the votes." Karl Marx
Don't even fall for that.
The Venezuelans have not spoken,, don't let the hype confuse you.. the voting system was untested, and quite frankly, a joke that it was even offered as a "solution" to tallying votes and ensuring true free elections.
I've been to that country before and the people do not wish to be ruled by dictators.. They have had their fill of it.
This country is corrupted and controlled the old fashion way.. kickbacks and assassinations of opponents and advocates for freedom and liberty.
Yeah a real amazing turnaround overnoight, indeed.
Vey suspicious.
"This is what American elections would look like in the future"
Electronic voting was used in Venezuela. A system begging for fraud.
Based on his past record of supporting Dictators (i.e. Castro, etc.), I predict he will support Chavez.
There was clear evidence of intimidation there as well. There were videos circulating that showed armmed men in camo saying they would start killing wealthy people if Chavez was ousted.
Simple. Carter will ALWAYS back whoever is the most anti-American.
I would agree. We'll get to see Chavez and Carter standing on the top of a tomb somewhere, viewing a troop parade.
No, not at all. He didn't need to to that. He just grabs power. No problem. He has the military behind him; and in Teraysus famous words, he tells the people to shove it. Period. You have to think like a Latin and not like an American.
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