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2007 Venezuelan constitutional referendum

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2007 Venezuelan constitutional referendum
2 December 2007
Block A articles
For
 
 49.35%
Against
 
 50.65%
Block B articles
For
 
 48.99%
Against
 
 51.01%
President Chávez voting

A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 2 December 2007 to amend 69 articles of the 1999 Constitution.[1] President Hugo Chávez and supporters claimed the changes were needed to initiate the transformation into a socialist country; opponents claimed the reforms would undermine democracy in the country.[2]

The referendum was narrowly defeated, giving Chávez the first and only election loss of his nine-year presidency. University student protests and opposition from former allies helped fuel the defeat, but the referendum results and the 44% abstention rate suggest that support had also waned among Chávez's traditional base of Venezuela's poor.[3][4]

Proposal

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On 15 August 2007 President Hugo Chávez proposed an amendment to 33 articles of Venezuela's 350-article Constitution. A constitutional provision allows the president, the National Assembly of Venezuela or a constituent assembly to ask for changes; reform should be approved by a national referendum.[5][6] The 1999 constitution was promoted by Chávez and adopted by popular referendum. The proposed constitutional reforms were needed, according to Chávez, to complete the transition to a socialist republic[7] and implement his socialist agenda; detractors said he was using the reforms to become a dictator.[2] The proposal was hailed by government supporters as "the start of a new era towards socialism", but Podemos, a pro-government party, expressed disagreement and claimed Chávez was seeking lifelong power.[5]

Venezuela's constitutional procedures require three debates before the National Assembly, to reform the constitution.[5] The first debate was successfully held on 21 August 2007 and gave initial approval to the general purpose of the reform.[5][8] During the second successful vote on 11 September 2007, the National Assembly added amendments to the original Chávez reform proposal, again angering the Podemos party, which said that the National Assembly had infringed the Constitution.[5][9] The third vote on 25 October 2007 approved the proposal, enlarged from 33 articles to 69.[10] Final parliamentary approval for the referendum was given on 2 November 2007.[11]

The final proposal included 69 constitutional amendments to be voted on in two blocks: 33 that were originally proposed by President Chávez plus another 13 articles introduced by the National Assembly (Proposal A) and 23 more reform articles proposed by the National Assembly (Proposal B).[7][12] Proposed changes included:[7][13][14]

  • abolish presidential term limits, allowing for indefinite re-election of the president (not allowed for any other political post),
  • expand social security benefits to workers in the informal economy,
  • end the autonomy of the central bank, giving control to the president, and place the president in charge of administering the country's international reserves,
  • prohibit large land estates, while "allowing the state to provisionally occupy property slated for expropriation before a court has ruled",[13]
  • reorganize the country's administrative districts and allow the president to control elected state governors and mayors by an unelected "popular power" dependent on the presidency,[15]
  • reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 36 hours and reduce the workday from eight to six hours,
  • lower the voting age from 18 to 16,
  • increase the presidential term from six to seven years,
  • allow the president to declare an unlimited state of emergency,
  • prohibit foreign funding for political associations.
  • allow public funding for political associations.
  • ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.[16]

Campaign

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Chávez supporters hang a pro reform poster

In November 2007, demonstrations arose in Caracas, Venezuela and six other cities over the proposed constitutional changes. "Tens of thousands" of "Yes" voters marched in Caracas after the referendum had finally been approved on 2 November.[17] A 7 November riot at the Central University of Venezuela resulted in gunfire and several injuries;[18] footage was caught on tape. In late November 2007, just days before the referendum, tens of thousands marched in Caracas for both the "Yes" and "No" votes.[19] An opposition politician estimated the crowd marching for the "No" vote at 160,000.[20] Protests were largely peaceful, and only one death has been reported.[21][22]

Some of Chávez's supporters expressed concerns and disagreement with his proposals to change the constitution. Many voters abstained in the vote, rather than cast a "No" vote against Chávez.[3][23] The student movement played a crucial role in consolidating this position[24] and in organizing numerous rallies.[20][25] The Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), created by former members of Otpor, contributed to the movement and provided training for students in Belgrade.[26][27] The student movement has played a large role in the Venezuelan political process, having gained a prominent position during the RCTV broadcast license expiration protests.[28] Although the student movement is not limited to the opposition,[29] it has been the opposition students that have gained the largest support, in part because they are not officially affiliated with any political cadres.[3]

Raúl Baduel, former Minister of Defense and one of the four founding members of Chávez's Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200, expressed his concern by describing the reform as "nothing less than an attempt to establish a socialist state in Venezuela ... [which] is contrary to the beliefs of Simón Bolívar and it is also contrary to human nature and the Christian view of society, because it grants the state absolute control over the people it governs".[30] Other leaders and former Chávez supporters who distanced themselves from the proposal were Ismael García, a deputy in the National Assembly, and Ramón Martínez, governor of Sucre State.[4] Marisabel Rodríguez, Chávez's ex-wife, called the proposed changes an attempt to achieve "an absolute concentration of power".[31]

Venezuela's state television network broadcast coverage prior to the referendum of a memo written in Spanish, claiming it evidenced a plan by the CIA to destabilize Chávez[23] —an allegation referred to as Operation Pliers.[32] Chávez threatened to cut off oil exports to the United States if violence resulted from the referendum[33] and declared at his campaign's closing that "whoever voted 'Yes' was voting for Hugo Chávez, but whoever voted 'No' was voting for George W. Bush". The U.S. has responded by calling the allegations "ridiculous"[33] and "a fake".[23] Independent analysts doubt the authenticity of the document, noting both the lack of an original document in English and that "the timing of its release is strange."[23]

Opinion polls

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29 November rally by the supporters of the "No" vote

Polls from November saw very close results. In mid-November, a Hinterlaces poll found that 51% of decided voters supported the change, while Mecanálisis said 64% of decided voters would vote against reform.[34] A poll by Keller & Asociados concluded defeat for the proposal with 45% "No" to 31% "Yes" votes; about 65% of eligible people planned to vote.[35] A late-November poll by Datanalisis of 1,854 likely voters indicated 49% were opposed, with 39% in favor. Reportedly, some moderate Chávez backers were likely to vote "No"; it was the first Datanalisis survey to project a loss, contrasted with earlier surveys that showed a win for Chávez "amid low turnout and despite widespread skepticism of his proposal".[36][37]

Results

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The proposal was narrowly defeated, 51 to 49 percent, in the first major electoral defeat for Chávez in the nine years of his presidency.[1] Chávez conceded defeat, saying, "I congratulate my adversaries for this victory", and "for now, we could not do it."[1]

Preparations for the referendum
People wait in line to vote in Caracas
Option For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout Outcome
Votes % Votes %
Option A 4,404,626 49.35 4,521,494 50.65 119,155 9,045,275 16,109,664 56.05 Rejected
Option B 4,360,014 48.99 4,539,707 51.01 145,239 9,044,960 56.15 Rejected
Source: El Universal

Results by state

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Results by state
Results by state
State Proposal A Proposal B
Option Votes % Option Votes %
Amazonas Yes 21,076 65.76 Yes 17,222 57.94
No 10,971 34.23 No 12,501 42.05
Anzoátegui Yes 206,826 45.60 Yes 205,048 45.34
No 246,657 54.39 No 247,124 54.65
Apure Yes 70,761 61.16 Yes 70,392 60.99
No 44,936 38.83 No 45,022 39.00
Aragua Yes 324,745 52.92 Yes 321,586 52.57
No 288,897 47.07 No 290,095 47.42
Barinas Yes 118,198 55.92 Yes 117,440 55.68
No 93,166 44.07 No 93,468 44.31
Bolívar Yes 202,767 52.70 Yes 200,843 52.40
No 181,929 47.29 No 182,414 47.59
Carabobo Yes 367,532 47.17 Yes 363,825 46.87
No 411,622 52.82 No 412,337 53.12
Cojedes Yes 65,210 60.87 Yes 64,736 60.64
No 41,914 39.12 No 42,012 39.35
Delta Amacuro Yes 28,505 60.96 Yes 28,299 60.71
No 18,251 39.03 No 18,308 39.28
Distrito Capital Yes 392,489 47.58 Yes 388,757 47.15
No 432,251 52.41 No 435,627 52.84
Falcón Yes 136,038 50.12 Yes 134,710 49.76
No 135,337 49.87 No 135,983 50.23
Guárico Yes 132,490 58.35 Yes 131,586 58.12
No 94,539 41.64 No 94,796 41.87
Lara Yes 284,726 48.97 Yes 281,262 48.50
No 296,603 51.02 No 298,658 51.50
Mérida Yes 132,979 45.28 Yes 132,355 45.16
No 160,657 54.71 No 160,681 54.83
Miranda Yes 422,811 43.78 Yes 416,797 43.30
No 542,799 56.21 No 544,717 56.65
Monagas Yes 160,096 57.87 Yes 159,079 57.64
No 116,532 42.12 No 116,894 42.35
Nueva Esparta Yes 69,495 43.90 Yes 69,106 43.74
No 88,799 56.09 No 88,862 56.25
Portuguesa Yes 169,499 63.08 Yes 168,025 62.68
No 99,207 36.92 No 100,013 37.31
Sucre Yes 125,494 51.07 Yes 124,818 50.88
No 120,214 48.92 No 120,472 49.11
Táchira Yes 169,171 42.68 Yes 168,024 42.49
No 227,156 57.31 No 227,379 57.50
Trujillo Yes 139,657 62.16 Yes 138,935 61.98
No 85,011 37.83 No 85,215 38.01
Vargas Yes 68,629 56.21 Yes 67,555 55.65
No 53,465 43.79 No 53,830 44.34
Yaracuy Yes 97,736 52.43 Yes 96,778 52.07
No 88,647 47.56 No 89,074 47.92
Zulia Yes 472,462 43.05 Yes 467,958 42.74
No 624,790 56.94 No 626,850 57.25
Source: National Electoral Council (CNE)[38]

Reactions

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El Nacional headline: "Venezuela said no".

In conceding defeat, Chávez insisted that he would "continue in the battle to build socialism".[39] Although two days later Chavez called "victoria de mierda" (shitty victory) to the results, further saying that "but already you are covering it (the victory) in shit".[40] Chávez conceded defeat by saying "for now, we couldn't" ("por ahora no pudimos"),[41][42] echoing the phrase he used after the failure of the February 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt.[2][43] Manuel Rosales, a 2006 Venezuelan presidential candidate, said, "Tonight, Venezuela has won".[1] Leopoldo López, a popular opposition mayor, said "Venezuela won today, democracy won today".[39]

Latin American media responses included special reports that highlighted Chávez's first electoral setback in nine years and his ethical acceptance of defeat.[44] According to a Mercosur press release, the general Latin American response was praise for the "democratic maturity" evidenced by the Venezuelan people. Brazil's Foreign Affairs Minister, Celso Amorin, said "The president accepted the result in a very calm and elegant manner."[39] President Felipe Calderón of Mexico said Chávez had shown " ... enormous valor to admit such results".[39] Spain's Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, said that "free expression of people's sovereignty has been accepted by all sides including those who had promoted the referendum".[39] Néstor Kirchner, Argentine President described Chávez as a "great democrat".[39] A response characterized by Mercosur as "blunt" came from Cuban Foreign Affairs minister Felipe Perez Roque: "those who have organized plots to destabilize Venezuela, to abolish its democratically elected government and even attempt a coup against President Chávez are active and we hope that they quit and let the Venezuelan people build their future in peace".[39]

The U.S. administration of President George W. Bush hailed the defeat as a victory for democracy. Bush said, "The Venezuelan people rejected one-man rule. They voted for democracy." A National Security Council spokesman said, "We congratulate the people of Venezuela on their vote and their continued desire to live in freedom and democracy".[43] A State Department Undersecretary said, "We felt that this referendum would make Chávez president for life, and that’s not ever a welcome development. In a country that wants to be a democracy, the people spoke, and the people spoke for democracy and against unlimited power."[43] A leader of the student movement, Yon Goicoechea, was awarded the Cato Institute's $500,000 Milton Friedman Liberty Prize in 2008 for his "pivotal role in organizing and voicing opposition to the erosion of human and civil rights" in Venezuela.[45]

The Organization of American States Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza called the results of the referendum an "exemplary development" on the part of the Venezuelan government and people, saying that democracy in the Americas "passed a difficult test and emerged stronger, showing clearly its consolidation."[46] Reporters without Borders expressed hope that the result of the vote would end the "media war" in Venezuela.[47]

The day after the referendum, financial markets were buoyed by Chávez's defeat; Venezuelan bonds rose and the stock index in Caracas surged 4% following a year-to-date 24% decline.[48]

Aftermath

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Chávez said on 5 December that he intended to launch a second attempt to change the Constitution. According to El Universal newspaper, he said:[49]

Watch out, US lovers, celebrate. You have no dignity anyhow. Where could you have it? I recommend you to administer your victory wisely, because we will launch a renewed offensive for the great constitutional reform. ... You have a second offensive left for the constitutional reform. I cannot say that we did not make it."

Responding to George W. Bush's remarks, he said:[49]

They say Chávez was blown away. Yes, but I moved not even a millimeter. Yes, I was blown away, but I am weaker not even a millimeter. Be worried, empire; be worried, unpatriotic oligarchy. Strike as many times as you want. But, beware! Do not provoke!

During a press conference with the military high command, he expressed on Venezolana de Televisión the possibility of bringing the proposal back in "the same form, transformed or simplified" in a future referendum and the creation of the Bolivarian militias by modifying the laws regarding the armed forces. He also described the opposition's victory as "full of shit" and his defeat as "full of courage, valor and dignity".[50][51]

A month after the referendum was defeated, Chávez named Ramón Carrizales to replace vice-president Jorge Rodríguez, who had been blamed by many Chávez supporters for the failed referendum.[52]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Romero, Simon (3 December 2007). "Venezuela Hands Narrow Defeat to Chávez Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Kofman, Jeffrey (3 December 2007). "Tension, Then Surprise, Chavez Loses Reform Vote". ABC Global News. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  3. ^ a b c Gould, Jens Erik (3 December 2007). "Why Venezuelans Turned on Chavez". Time. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  4. ^ a b Romero, Simon (4 December 2007). "Venezuela Vote Sets Roadblocks on Chávez Path". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Understanding constitutional reform in Venezuela (a background)". Maldives Independent News Media. 18 November 2007. Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  6. ^ "Reforma de la constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela" (PDF) (in Spanish). National Electoral Council (Venezuela). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  7. ^ a b c "Q&A: Venezuela's referendum". BBC News. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  8. ^ "Venezuela lawmakers back reforms". BBC News. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Constitutional Reform Project is approved in its second discussion", Mathaba.net, 12 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  10. ^ "Chavez gets constitutional reform backing from Venezuelan Congress" Archived 11 July 2012 at archive.today, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (monstersandcritics.com), 25 October 2007. Retrieved on 4 December 2007.
  11. ^ "Venezuela assembly passes reforms". BBC News. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  12. ^ "AN presenta al CNE pregunta para referéndum" (Press release) (in Spanish). Gobierno Bolivariano de Venezuela. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  13. ^ a b "A glance at Venezuela's referendum". The Mercury News. Associated Press. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007. [dead link‍] Also available at CBS News
  14. ^ "US hails Chavez referendum defeat". BBC News. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  15. ^ "Defeat for Hugo Chávez: The wind goes out of the revolution". The Economist. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  16. ^ "Gay rights were part of rejected Venezuelan referendum". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  17. ^ James, Ian (21 November 2007). "Thousands Rally for Chavez's Proposal". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  18. ^ Sierra, Sandra (8 November 2007). "Gunfire erupts at Venezuela university". The Guardian. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 November 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  19. ^ Strange, Hannah (30 November 2007). "100,000 march against Hugo Chavez reforms". Times Online. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  20. ^ a b "Students stage anti-Chavez rally". BBC News. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  21. ^ "One person killed in demonstration in Venezuela". El Universal. 26 November 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  22. ^ "Un muerto y 6 heridos durante protestas" (in Spanish). El Universal. 27 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  23. ^ a b c d Romero, Simon (30 November 2007). "In Chávez Territory, Signs of Dissent". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  24. ^ Kraul, Chris (4 December 2007). "Chavez revolution takes hit in election". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  25. ^ "Students want referendum to be hold (sic) on 3 February 2008". El Universal. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  26. ^ "Venezuela: The Marigold Revolution?". Stratfor. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Venezuela: A New Player in the Mix". Stratfor. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2024. CANVAS, originally known in Serbia as Otpor (loosely translated as "Resistance"), excels at bridging the gaps between disparate factions, mobilizing popular support, coordinating protest actions and hitting authoritarian governments where it most hurts. It shines at carrying out the sort of activities at which the Venezuelan opposition fails miserably, and it has now contributed to Chavez's first real defeat.
  28. ^ Nunez, Elizabeth (4 June 2007). "Venezuela Students Spur Protest Movement". The Washington Post. The Associated Press. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  29. ^ "Bolivarian students are marching to Chávez's government headquarters". El Universal. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2007.
  30. ^ Raúl Baduel (1 December 2007). "Why I Parted Ways With Chávez". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  31. ^ Orozco, Jose (2 December 2007). "Ex-wife damns Hugo Chavez 'coup'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 December 2007.[dead link‍]
  32. ^ "In Venezuela, an American Has the President's Ear". The New York Times. 4 February 2011.
  33. ^ a b Chavez urges reform for Venezuela. BBC News, 1 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007
  34. ^ "Outcome of Venezuela's Referendum Uncertain". Angus Reid Global Monitor. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  35. ^ "Última encuesta de Keller & Asociados da ganadora opción del NO" (in Spanish). Globovision. 23 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  36. ^ "Poll says Chavez loses Venezuela referendum lead". B92.net. 24 November 2007. Archived from the original on 25 November 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  37. ^ "Half in Venezuela Reject New Constitution". Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research. 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  38. ^ (in Spanish) Poder electoral ofreció primer boletin oficial. Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine National Electoral Council, 3 December 2007. Accessed on 3 December 2007
  39. ^ a b c d e f g "Praise for Venezuela but Chavez promises 'we will prevail'" (Press release). MercoPress. 4 December 2007. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  40. ^ García, James L. (6 December 2007). "Chávez califica de 'victoria de mierda' el triunfo de la oposición" [Foreign media on the referendum]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Caracas. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  41. ^ Matthew Walter and Helen Murphy. Venezuelans Reject Chavez's Plans for Constitution (Update1). Bloomberg, 3 December 2007. Accessed on 3 December 2007
  42. ^ Peregil, F (3 December 2007). "Venezuela dice 'no' a la Constitución de Chávez" [Venezuela Says 'No' to Chavez's Constitution]. El País (in Spanish). Caracas. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  43. ^ a b c Bachelet, Pablo (3 December 2007). "Bush administration hails Chavez defeat". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  44. ^ "Foreign media on the referendum". El Universal. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  45. ^ "Venezuelan Student Movement Leader Awarded $500,000 Milton Friedman Liberty Prize". Cato Institute. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  46. ^ "Insulza congratulates Venezuelan government and people". El Universal. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  47. ^ "RSF hopes referendum to stop "media war" in Venezuela". El Universal. 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  48. ^ Lesova, Polya Lesova (3 December 2007). "Emerging Markets Report: Venezuelan bonds rally after Chavez referendum loss". MarketWatch. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  49. ^ a b "Chávez announces second offensive to reform the Constitution". El Universal. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  50. ^ "Presidente Chávez: "Vendrá una nueva ofensiva" para reformar la Carta Magna". YVKE Caracas. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  51. ^ "Presidente Chavez desmiente haber sido presionado por alto mando militar y reitera que insistirá en su proyecto" (in Spanish). Globovisión. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  52. ^ Jack Daniel, Frank (3 January 2008). "Venezuela's Chavez reshuffles cabinet after defeat". Reuters. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
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