Word: chavez
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...used to be a given that Chavez could count on the lower class, which represents the majority of the population, to turn the vote his way. Clearly, after logging 49% of the vote for his controversial reform, Chavez still has many of the poor on his side. The electoral council has yet to release detailed results that would indicate how impoverished areas voted. But an abstention rate of 44% suggests some of Chavez's traditional support base didn't show up to vote. And, narrow as the vote count was, the rejection of his proposal only one year after...
...Early this morning, the capital was a surreal site for Venezuelans who had begun to believe Chavez was invincible at the ballot box. Most chavistas who celebrated early in front of the Miraflores presidential palace abandoned the party when the voting results were announced at 1 a.m., leaving a sparse crowd with long faces milling about in a sea of empty rum and beer bottles. A large inflatable bust of Chavez with his arms outstretched lay face-down and half-deflated on an empty stage. A man who looked drunk held up several soggy and torn "Yes" posters in front...
...Meanwhile, across town in wealthier Altamira, Chavez opponents who had seemingly forgotten how to rejoice clogged streets, set off fireworks and exchanged embraces. As the mostly student crowd chanted and played drums outside the opposition campaign headquarters, newspaper editor and former presidential candidate Teodoro Petkoff flashed a wide smile. "Last week it was evident there was a transfer of people who usually vote for Chavez, and they defeated it," he said...
...Petare said they opted for "Yes." But there were clearly naysayers. "The majority here will vote no," 51-year-old Maria Negrin said after voting in Petare on Sunday morning. "I don't agree with giving all the power to the President." Others said they wanted to vote against Chavez's proposal, but felt obligated to vote yes because they benefited from government social programs...
...constitutional overhaul said they were more troubled about measures to abolish presidential term limits and facilitate state expropriation of private property than they were enthused by articles that could benefit the poor, such as social security for informal workers and popular participation in government. That begs the question: did Chavez sacrifice measures that could have helped the poor because he insisted on a political power grab...