Venezuela rejects Chavez reforms
Mr Chavez proposals were rejected in a close referendum
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Monday, 03, Dec 2007 07:17
Voters in Venezuela have rejected president Hugo Chavez's proposed reforms in a closely fought referendum.
Mr Chavez conceded defeat after the nation's election body announced 51 per cent of voters did not approve of the proposed changes while 49 per cent were in favour of the leader's plans.
It is the first electoral defeat for Mr Chavez, who has held many public votes in the past in order to push forward his socialist programme.
In the referendum he had asked voters to approve a raft of reforms, including one that would permit him to stand for re-election indefinitely. The close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro had said he was willing to rule for decades if given the chance.
Besides the issue of the head of state's term in office, voters were also asked to decide whether Venezuela's central bank should be independent, if workers in the informal sector should have social security benefits and whether a six-hour working day should be established in the country.
Commentators have said that Mr Chavez had tried to portray the vote as a battle between socialist and "imperialist" forces, by saying that a no to his reforms would be a vote for the US.
Mr Chavez, who is a stern critic of the US, also alleged the superpower was interfering in the polling process and threatened to halt oil supplies to the country if he noticed interference in the conduct of the referendum.
Click here for a look at Venezuela's turbulent leadership.